Fungal Genomics & Biology
Open Access
ISSN: 2165-8056
ISSN: 2165-8056
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Dr. Alessandra Di Francesco is an agronomist who has been working for the last 9 years on the Plant Pathology sector at Bologna University. He have almost 9 years of experience in academic research in plant pathology, postharvest diseases, and biological control methods, and also in food control, gaining experience in these sectors. He have completed Ph.D. in Plant Physiology
Research Article
Characterization of Aureobasidium pullulans Isolates Selected as Biocontrol Agents Against Fruit Decay Pathogens
Author(s): Janja Zajc*, Anja Černoša, Alessandra Di Francesco, Raffaello Castoria, Filippo De Curtis, Giuseppe Lima, Hanene Badri, Haissam Jijakli, Antonio Ippolito, Cene GostinČar, Polona Zalar, Nina Gunde- Cimerman and Wojciech J. Janisiewicz
The "yeast-like" fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans, isolated from fruit and leaves exhibits strong biocontrol activity
against postharvest decays on various fruit. Some strains were even developed into commercial products. We
obtained 20 of these strains and investigated their characteristics related to biocontrol. Phylogenetic analyses based
on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the D1/D2 domains of rRNA 28S gene regions confirmed that all the
strains are most closely related to A. pullulans species. All strains grew at 0°C, which is very important to control
decay at low storage temperature, and none grew at 37°C, which eliminates concern for human safety. Eighteen
strains survived 2 hrs exposures to 50°C and two strains even survived for 24 hrs. Salt-tolerance varied; however,
all strains grew on medium with 14% NaCl and 14.. View More»
DOI:
10.35248/2165-8056.20.10.161