Postharvest disease, latent infection, and preharvest control of ‘Shine-Muscat’ grapes

The cultivation of ‘Shine-Muscat’ grape variety is rapidly expanding in East Asia due to its exceptional qualities favored by consumers. However, studies on the disease pathogens affecting this variety and how to control them remain limited. This study focuses on investigating postharvest diseases that impact ‘Shine-Muscat’ grapes and explores potential prevention methods, with regional emphasis on Shanghai metropolitan area, a key market for edible grapes in China. Common market diseases such as Alternaria spot, grey mold, and Aspergillus rot are frequently found in ‘Shine-Muscat’ grapes, accounting for 29.2%, 20.4%, and 16.7% of diagnostic cases, respectively. The study revealed that Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., and Botrytis cinerea could attach to or invade grape fruits during the flowering, young fruit, and veraison stages of ‘Shine-Muscat’. In contrast to conventional open field cultivation methods, the rain-shelter and root restriction cultivation can aid in reducing fruit disease incidence during production, and thus alleviate the postharvest disease risks. Moreover, the application of calcium propionate during fruit development stages could efficiently manage both in-field and post-harvest diseases, and extend storage life of harvested fruit.