Evaluation of Rhodosporidium fluviale as biocontrol agent against Botrytis cinerea on apple fruit

SANSONE, G.; FERNÁNDEZ, G.; CALVENTE, V.; SANZ FERRAMOLA, M.; LAMBRESE, Y.; BENUZZI, D.

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2018

0266-8254

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the ability of the native yeast Rhodosporidium fluviale to control Botrytis cinerea on apple fruit and to study the possible mechanisms of action with the goal of improving the control of gray mold. For this, the influence of application time of the yeast was studied simulating preventive and curative effects. Also, the effect of nonviable cells of the yeast in the biocontrol was assessed. According to the results obtained, the following mechanisms of action of Rhodosporidium fluviale could be proposed: 1-competition for space, 2-direct interaction between antagonist and pathogen, 3- induction of β-1,3-glucanase in apple tissue,4- Probable production of glucanase in the apple wounds and 5- antifungal action of cellular components, probably chitin, present in the wall of yeast cells that could be the explanation for the activity of nonviable cells.