Molecular Approaches to Assist the Screening and Monitoring of Postharvest Biocontrol Yeasts

Nineteen yeast isolates obtained from the surface of several fruits and vegetables grown in Southern Italy and Israel were compared by molecular analysis using arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA technique (RAPD-PCR). Genetic analysis made it possible to distinguish between closely-related genitically different strains which had the same morphological characteristic, and to discard isolates which were genetically identical. Following PCR characterisation, 6 isolates were selected and tested for their biocontrol activity against major postharvest pathogens (Penicillium digitatum on grapefruit, Botrytis cinerea, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger on table grape and B. cinerea and R. stolonifer on cherry tomato). All the isolates showed a good biocontrol efficacy on both wounded and non-wounded fruits. Furthermore, the preharvest application of the most effective antagonist (LS15) on table grape resulted in a significant reduction in grey mold ranging from 28.3% to 38.2% compared to the untreated control. The RAPD-PCR technique was also useful for identifying and monitoring the survival of the antagonist after field application.