# Brown Rot Caused by _Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi_ (syn.
## 5 Strategies to Mitigate the Damage Caused by Moulds and, in Particular, _G. smithogilvyi_  
Some works have been carried out at both the pre-harvest and post-harvest levels of the European chestnut to increase the shelf life of the fruits. Table 3 compiles the studies carried out so far on this topic. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l l} \hline \hline
**Stage** & **Method** & **Reference** \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{Pre-harvest} & Preventive & [18] \\  & - Removal of litter following harvest & [18] \\ \cline{2-3}  & Control & \\ \cline{2-3}  & - Use of antagonists, such as _ Bacillus amyloliquefaciens_ and _Trichoderma atroviride_ & [72; 73] \\ \cline{2-3}  & - Use of fertilizers, such as Kalex Zn product (Alba Milagro\({}^{\circledown}\)), and application & \\  & of Myystic\({}^{\circledown}\) 430 SC (Nufarm Italia Ltd., Milano, Italy, at 40.18\% (\(w/v\)) of & \\  & tebuconazole. This product is used as conventional chemical treatment against & [74] \\  & fungal contamination) & \\ \cline{2-3}  & - Use of fungicides 1: pyraclostrobin; prochloraz; iprodione; fluidoxonil; & [75] \\  & difenoconazole; cyprodinil + fluidoxonil; pyraclostrobin + difenoconazole & \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{Post-harvest} & - Disinfectants 2: hydrogen peroxide + peracetic acid; trifoxystrobin; hydrogen & \\  & peroxide + peracetic acid + caprylic acid + glycolic acid + capric acid; & \\  & fluidoxonil; caprylic acid + glycolic acid + capric acid; chlorine dioxide; & [76] \\ \cline{2-3}  & sodium metabisulfite; sodium hypochlorite; aluminum hydroxide acetate; & \\ \cline{2-3}  & copper sulphate; aqueous ozone; peracetic acid. & \\ \cline{2-3}  & - Post-processing treatments applied to inoculated peeled chestnuts 3: X-ray & \\  & irradiation (70 kV/57 mA, doses 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 kGy); StorOx (2700 ppm & \\  & hydrogen dioxide + 200 ppm peracetic acid); Agri-cide (1 ppm); 10 ppm & [77] \\  & chlorine dioxide solution; 0.70 ppm ozone solution; 80 ppm peracetic acid; & \\  & 100 ppm chlorine solution; 0.2 M sodium chloride; warm water at 65 \({}^{\circ}\)C) & \\ \cline{2-3}  & - Gaseous ozone & [66] \\ \cline{2-3}  & - Hot-water treatment + enzymes able to degrade the fungal cell wall & [63] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}  
* Active compounds. 2 Concerning the mould severity on the shell and the incidence of decay in the kernel.
* Concerning mesophilic aerobic bacteria and yeast counts. Aprox. 500 g of inoculated chestnuts were immersed in each solution for 2 min. Active agents: StorOx (27% hydrogen dioxide + 2% peracetic acid); Agri-cide (18.25-21.75% copper sulfate pentahydrate); chlorine solution (6% sodium hypochlorite).  
\end{table} 
Table 3: Methods to prevent and control _G. smithogilvyi_ during pre-harvest and post-harvest. Applying good management practices in the orchards is essential for reducing the spread and inoculum density of _G. smithogilvyi_. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [18] suggest removing the litter after harvesting to reduce the inoculum. Nevertheless, as stated by the authors, more studies need to be carried out to show a positive relationship between the presence of litter and the incidence of the disease. At the pre-harvest level, [PERSON] et al. [72] found that both _Bacillus amyloliquefaciens_ and _Trichoderma atroviride_ are promising biocontrol agents of _G. smithogilvyi_. In fact, the inoculation of the chestnut incisions of the cultivar Monti Cimini of Italy with suspensions of _B. amyloliquefaciens_ or _T. atroviride_ before grafting inhibited the growth of _G. smithogilvyi_ in the bark tissues [72]. The same authors also observed a reduction in the symptoms of bark canker when these antagonists were applied [72]. It was now found that _Trichoderma_ spp. isolates were able to suppress _G. smithogilvyi_ growth through the production of volatile compounds (VOCs) and non-volatile compounds (nVOCs) [73]. On the other hand, _Bacillus subtilis_ was also able to inhibit the fungus growth; however, its main effect was through nVOCs [73]. [PERSON] et al.