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Postharvest grape infection of B otrytis cinerea and its interactions with other moulds under withering conditions to produce noble‐rotten grapes
Author(s) -
Lorenzini M.,
Azzolini M.,
Tosi E.,
Zapparoli G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.12075
Subject(s) - botrytis cinerea , postharvest , penicillium expansum , alternaria alternata , horticulture , biology , inoculation , botrytis , botany , food science
Aims To investigate the interactions between B otrytis cinerea and other moulds during grape withering and postharvest infection to obtain noble‐rotten grapes. Methods and Results Strains of B otrytis cinerea , P enicillium expansum , P enicillium crustosum , A spergillus niger , F usarium verticilloides and A lternaria alternata , isolated from naturally withered grapes and identified by molecular tools, were used to infect G arganega and C orvina grapes. Individually sterilized berries were infected by a single inoculation of each strain or a simultaneous inoculation of B . cinerea together with one of each of the other moulds. Withering kinetics, glycerol, gluconic acid, total polyphenols, total anthocyanins and laccase activity greatly varied among each strain and also in respect to untreated berries. Successful noble rot settlement was ascertained by an additional infection assay carried out on nonsterilized berries. Conclusions The suitability of inducing noble rot infection during grape withering and the improvement of the health of noble‐rotten grapes have been demonstrated. Significance and Impact of the Study This study provides insights on the effects of mould interactions on withered grape quality. Implementing noble rot induction by postharvest infection in winery drying fruit rooms to standardize the level of grape botrytization is encouraged.