The growth dynamics of W. anomalus (strain 422) and M. guilliermondii (strain 443) respectively on papaya surface wounds are displayed in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. In both cases, the populations increased after an adjustment period, reaching the maximum growth between 3 and 4 d after inoculation, at which time they tended to stabilize and then decreased to levels similar to the initial levels at the end of the eighth day of incubation.