Institute for Technology
& Storage of Agricultural Products
Dept. of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce
Agricultural Research Organization,
The Volcani Center,
P.O.Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Research Interests
Biological Control of Postharvest Diseases of Fruit Crops.
Non-chemical control methods of postharvest diseases.
Pathoginicity mechanisms of postharvest pathogens
Host-parasite interactions
Recent Publications
Karabulut, O. A. Lurie, S. and Droby, S. (2001) Evaluation of the Use of
Sodium Bicarbonate, Potassium Sorbate and Yeast Antagonists for Decreasing
Postharvest Decay of Sweet Cherries. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 23:233-236.
Kutrzman, C.P. and Droby, S. (2001) Metschnikowia fructicola, a new
ascosporic yeast effective for biocontrol of postharvest fruit rots. Sysem.
Appl. Micriobiol. 24: 395-399.
Droby, S, Vinokur, VWeiss, B, Cohen, L, Daus A., Goldschmid, E. and Porat,
R., (2002) Induction of Resistance to Penicillium digitatum in Grapefruit
by the Yeast Biocontrol Agent Candida oleophila .Phytopathology 92:
393-399.
Droby S. Wisniewski M. E., El-Ghaouth, A. and Wilson, C.L. (2002) Influence
of Food additives on the control of postharvest rots of apple and peach and
efficacy of the yeast-based biocontrol product Aspire. Postharvest Biol.
Technol. 27:127-135.
Karabulut, O. A., Cohen, L., Wiess, B., Daus, A., Lurie, S., and Droby,
S. (2002)
Control of brown rot and blue mold of peach and nectarine by short hot water
brushing
and yeast antagonists. Postharvest Biol. Technol 24: 103-111
Segal, E., Yehuda, H., Droby, S., Wisniewski, M. and Goldway, M. (2002)
Cloning and expression of the 1,3-β-glucanase gene of a yeast biocontrol
agent Candida oleophila. Yeast 19:1171-1182.
Porat, R., McCollum G., Vinokur, V., and Droby, S. (2002) Effects of various
elicitors on the transcription of a β-1,3-3ndoglucanase gene in citrus fruit.
Journal of Phytopathology 150: 70-75.
Porat, R., Daus, A., Weiss, B., Cohen, L, and Droby, S. (2002) Effects of
combining hot water, sodium bicarbonate and biocontrol on postharvest decay
of citrus fruit. J. Hort. Sci. Biotechnol 77(4): 441-445.
Wisniewski, M.E., Basset, C.L., Artlip, T.S., Webb, R.P., Janisiewicz, W.,
Norelli, J.L., Golway, M., and Droby, S. 2003. Characterization of defensin
in bark and fruit tissues of peach and antimicrobial activity of recombinant
defensin in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Physiologia Plantarum 119:563-572.
Karabulut, O.A., Smilanick, J. L., Gabler, F. M, Mansour M., and Droby S.
(2003). Near-harvest applications of Metschnikowia fructicola, ethanol,
and sodium bicarbonate to control postharvest diseases of grape in central
California. Plant Disease 87:1384-1389
Yehuda, H., Droby S., Bar-Shimon, M., Wisniewski, M. and Goldway, M. 2003.
The effect of under and overexpressed CoEXG1-encoded exoglucanase secreted
by Candida oleophila on the biocontrol of Penicillium digitatum. Yeast
20:771-780.
Porat, R., Vinokur, V., Weiss, B., Cohen, L., Daus, A., Goldschmidt, E.
And Droby, S. 2003. Induction of resistance to Penicillium digitatum in grapefruit
by β-aminobutyric acid. European Journal of Plant Pathology 109:901-907
Droby, S., Wisniewski, M., El-Ghaouth, A. and Wilson, C. 2003. Biological
control of postharvest diseases of fruit and vegetables: current achievements
and future challenges. Acta Hort. 628:703-713
Karabulut, O. A., Tezcan, H., Daus, A. Cohen, L,. Wiess, B and Droby, S.
(2004) Biological control of preharvest and postharvest rots in strawberries
by Metschnikowia fructicola. Biocontrol Science and Technology 14(5): 513-521
Bar-Shimon, M., Yehuda, H., Cohen, L., Weiss, B., Kobeshnikov, A., Daus,
A., Goldway, M., Wisniewski, M., and Droby, S. 2004. Characterization of extracellular
lytic enzymes produced by the yeast biocontrol agent Candida oleophila. Current
Genetics 45: 140148.
Current Projects
Developing yeast biocontrol agents for the control of postharvest decay
of fruits and vegetables.
Developing integrated non-chemical approach for the control of postharvest
decay of fruits and vegetables.
Studying the mechanism of action of yeast biocontrol agents.
Characterization of the biochemical basis of host specificity of Penicillium
digitatum and Penicillium italicum on citrus fruit
Evaluating the use of food additives, essential oils plant extracts for
the control of postharvest diseases.
Evaluating the efficacy of low-risk fungicides for the control of postharvest
decay of citrus fruit.
Samir Droby Ph.D.