Botrytis cinerea Pers., the causal agent of gray mold, infects more than 200 plant species. This pathogen has traditionally been controlled by fungicides. However, with the increasing demand for pesticide-free foods new control strategies are needed. The objective of this study was to isolate and select grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) epiphytic yeasts for the biocontrol of B. cinerea in table gra...

First of all, since the area of biological control is so vast, I will be restricting my talk to the area of biocontrol of postharvest fruit pathogens. Fungicides are a primary means of controlling postharvest diseases. However, as a result of public concern about the presence of synthetic chemicals in our food supply and environment, several fungicides have been banned by the U. S. Environmenta...

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin commonly present in cereals, grapes, coffee, spices, and cocoa. Even though the main objective of the food and feed chain processors and distributors is to avoid the extended contamination of plant-derived foods and animal feeds with mycotoxins, until now, complete OTA removal from foods and feedstuffs is not feasible. Prevention through pre-harvest management ...

Biocontrol strategies for the limitation of undesired microbial developments in foods and beverages represent a keystone toward the goal of more sustainable food systems. Brettanomyces bruxellensis is a wine spoilage microorganism that produces several compounds that are detrimental for the organoleptic quality of the wine, including some classes of volatile phenols. To control the proliferatio...

Twenty-eight potential biocontrol organisms were tested for efficacy against Rhizoctonia solani on potato in a series of greenhouse trials. Organisms tested consisted of field isolates of Paenibacillus polymyxa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Penicillium sp., Trichoderma sp., and Rhizoctonia zeae; known biocontrol isolates including Laetisaria arvalis, Verticillium biguttatum, Cladorrhinum foecundiss...

Debaryomyces hanseniZopf isolated from the fructoplane of apples were found to be effective as biocontrol agent against rot of papaya caused by Ulocladium. chartarum(Pr.) Simm. The ability of D. hansenii to prevent infection of U. chartarum was lost when the antagonist cells were killed by autoclaving. Cell free culture filtrates of antagonist were unable to prevent disease incidence. Efficacy ...

Pichia membranifaciens CYC 1086 secretes a killer toxin (PMKT2) that is inhibitory to a variety of spoilage yeasts and fungi of agronomical interest. The killer toxin in the culture supernatant was concentrated by ultrafiltration and purified to homogeneity by two successive steps, including native electrophoresis and HPLC gel filtration. Biochemical characterization of the toxin showed it to b...