Mango is one of the main subtropical crops growing in southern Spain. Spanish mango
fruit production can be efficiently transported to the rest of Europe, and these mangoes are very
appreciated for their quality and flavour. However, postharvest rots have been detected in stored
mango fruits, making their commercialization difficult. The causal agents associated with such
rot symptoms have been isolated and identified. Because the mango crops used to share the same
growing area with avocado crops, fungal presence on surrounding asymptomatic avocado fruits was
also analysed to detect potential cross infections. Artificial inoculation with Neofusicoccum parvum and
N. mediterraneum was able to reproduce rot symptoms in mango but was also able to induce rots in
avocado fruits. To approach a biological control strategy against these rot-producing fungi, two very
well-known antagonistic biocontrol bacteria, Pseudomonas chlororaphis PCL1606, and Bacillus velezensis
UMAF6639, were tested. The obtained results revealed that both bacteria can control the fungal rots
on stored mango and avocado fruits under controlled conditions. Additionally, the strain B. velezensis
UMAF6639 showed the ability to persist on the fruit surface of adult commercial trees in experiments
under open field conditions, helping to prevent the appearance of these postharvest diseases.
