Postharvest decay of mandarin fruit in Serbia caused by Penicillium expansum

Mandarin fruits are one of the most popular among the Citrus genus. They are consumed because of their nutritional and health benefits, as well as pleasant taste and smell. This paper describes the identification and characterization of Penicillium expansum, isolated from molded mandarin fruits. The obtained isolates were cultivated on five media [Czapek Yeast Autolysate agar (CYA), MEA (Malt extract agar), Creatine sucrose agar (CREA), Yeast extract sucrose agar (YES), and Oatmeal agar (OA)] and at five different incubation temperatures (5, 15, 25, 30, and 37 ?C). Isolates were sequenced for two molecular loci: internal transcribed spacer and beta-tubulin. Based on the results from morphological, physiological, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses, the recovered isolates were identified as P. expansum. The isolated species was confirmed as pathogenic to mandarin fruits in a pathogenicity test. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of P. expansum as a postharvest pathogen of mandarin fruit in Serbia.

Effect of a yeast autolysate produced by high pressure homogenization on white wine evolution during ageing

The enological characteristics and the performances of a yeast autolysate produced by high pressure homogenization (HPH-YD) were investigated for the first time in white wine and model solution, in comparison with a thermolysate (T-YD) and a commercial yeast derivative (COMM). In wine-like medium, HPH-YD showed a significant release of glucidic colloids (on average, slightly higher than the other products), also leading to a greater glutathione solubilization with respect to T-YD. Concerning the volatile composition of the autolysates, HPH-YD was characterized by the highest concentration of alcohols and esters, while showing an average amount of fatty acids, carbonyls and heterocyclic compounds lower than COMM. These features are potentially linked to a more favorable impact of this product on the composition of wine aroma, should these compounds be released into the wine itself. HPH-YD determined minor modifications on wine volatile profile when added for short contact times, without releasing unwanted compounds and with a slightly lower binding capacity towards wine esters. The effects of the three yeast derivatives (YDs) on wine color during ageing was also investigated in comparison with sulfur dioxide (SO2). HPH-YD was the most efficient preparation, limiting wine color changes due to oxidation during four months and behaving more similarly to SO2. The use of HPH for the production of yeast autolysates for winemaking may represent an interesting alternative to thermal treatments, improving the enological characteristics of these additives, particularly their antioxidant capacity, leading anyhow a significant release of colloidal molecules and a limited impact on wine aroma composition.

Effectiveness of the use of complex biological and mineral compounds in alimentary osteodystrophy of lactating cows

According to the data of Samara Veterinary Laboratory, in serum of cattle in 40.7 % of studied samples the calcium indicators have low values while increasing the level of inorganic phosphorus by 18.2 %, which indicates a significant prevalence and severe form of nutritional osteodystrophy in animals of the examined farms. The therapeutic use of a protein-mineral additive based on yeast autolysate, fodder bentonite, mono calcium phosphate and chalk in the general complex of therapeutic measures for alimentary osteodystrophy of lactating cows stimulates mineral metabolism, normalizing the calcium-phosphorus ratio, and has a positive effect on the milk productivity, increasing milk yield by 41.9 %. The preparation helps to stimulate hemoand erythropoiesis and has an anti-toxic effect on liver. The use of the additive allows increasing the economic efficiency of milk productivity during alimentary osteodystrophy of cows by 11.2 %.

Chemical control of fungal growth and ochratoxin A production by Aspergillus isolated from Moroccan grapes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three fungicides azoxystrobin (Ortiva), hexaconazole (Hexa) and pyrimethanil (Pyrus) for their ability to inhibit the radial growth and ochratoxin A (OTA) production by five ochratoxigenic strains of Aspergillus carbonarius and A. niger previously iso-lated from Moroccan grapes. Our results showed that, the addition of the fungicides to the Czapek Yeast Autolysate agar culture medium reduced the growth of the ochratoxigenic strains. Pyrimethanil caused total inhibition of spore germination and growth of the five strains, for all dose tested. Where-as hexaconazole totally inhibited the growth of 4 strains and gave growth for the MUCL 49227 strain (2.67 mm/day) at sublethal concentration. The reduction in radial growth was less marked for azoxystrobin, with growth rate varying between 0 and 6.37 mm/day depending on the strain and the azoxystrobin concentration. Analysis of variance showed that the effect of single factors (fungicides, concentration and strain) and their interactions on growth and OTA production were highly significant (P=0.000).These findings suggest that the use of tested fungicides have to potential for reduction in production of OTA.