Unveiling the potential of native Blueberry-derived yeasts as biocontrol agents against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata

Blueberry production in Argentina faces economic losses caused mainly by fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata. Synthetic fungicides are expected to be discontinued in favor of a more sustainable agriculture, making indigenous yeast, which protects the plants, a promisin...

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Main Authors: Florencia Isabel Chacón, Pedro Eugenio Sineli, Santiago Bernabé Guiñazú, Fátima Micaela Alvarez, Anja Poehlein, Rolf Daniel, Julián Rafael Dib
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Biological Control
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104996442500180X
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author Florencia Isabel Chacón
Pedro Eugenio Sineli
Santiago Bernabé Guiñazú
Fátima Micaela Alvarez
Anja Poehlein
Rolf Daniel
Julián Rafael Dib
author_facet Florencia Isabel Chacón
Pedro Eugenio Sineli
Santiago Bernabé Guiñazú
Fátima Micaela Alvarez
Anja Poehlein
Rolf Daniel
Julián Rafael Dib
author_sort Florencia Isabel Chacón
collection DOAJ
description Blueberry production in Argentina faces economic losses caused mainly by fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata. Synthetic fungicides are expected to be discontinued in favor of a more sustainable agriculture, making indigenous yeast, which protects the plants, a promising alternative. This study explored the cultivable portion of blueberry fruits and flowers epiphytic yeast community to identify yeasts capable of protecting fruits against the major phytopathogens affecting this crop. Native yeasts were isolated and identified based on the PCR-amplified and sequenced D1/D2 domains of the 26S rRNA gene. Members of the genera: Rhodotorula, Hanseniaspora, Naganishia, Moesziomyces, Rhizosphaera, Metschnikowia, Clavispora, Pallidophorina, Hannaella, Aureobasidium, Sporobolomyces, Filobasidium, and Cystobasidium were identified. Subsequently, antagonism against B. cinerea and A. alternata was assessed in vitro and in vivo. Finally, potential modes of action such as killer phenotype, siderophore production and formation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were also evaluated. Among 38 yeast strains identified, the strain Aureobasidium leucospermi LAF2 stood out in vitro and in vivo with respect to protect blueberry fruits against B. cinerea by 58.33 % and A. alternata by 67.78 % of biocontrol efficiency at 25 °C. It also proved the ability to produce hydroxamate-type siderophores and VOCs capable of inhibiting B. cinerea growth by 48.19 %. These results suggest that fruits and flowers epiphytic microbial communities are a reservoir of potential biological control agents. A. leucospermi LAF2 is a strong candidate for a sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides in blueberry production.
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spelling doaj-art-4e223f72b9744c2cb2e98367932c63e82025-08-20T05:04:27ZengElsevierBiological Control1049-96442025-10-0120910587010.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105870Unveiling the potential of native Blueberry-derived yeasts as biocontrol agents against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternataFlorencia Isabel Chacón0Pedro Eugenio Sineli1Santiago Bernabé Guiñazú2Fátima Micaela Alvarez3Anja Poehlein4Rolf Daniel5Julián Rafael Dib6Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, ArgentinaPlanta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, ArgentinaFacultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, ArgentinaFacultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, ArgentinaGenomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, GermanyGenomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Corresponding author.Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina; Instituto de Microbiología, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina; Corresponding author at: Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.Blueberry production in Argentina faces economic losses caused mainly by fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata. Synthetic fungicides are expected to be discontinued in favor of a more sustainable agriculture, making indigenous yeast, which protects the plants, a promising alternative. This study explored the cultivable portion of blueberry fruits and flowers epiphytic yeast community to identify yeasts capable of protecting fruits against the major phytopathogens affecting this crop. Native yeasts were isolated and identified based on the PCR-amplified and sequenced D1/D2 domains of the 26S rRNA gene. Members of the genera: Rhodotorula, Hanseniaspora, Naganishia, Moesziomyces, Rhizosphaera, Metschnikowia, Clavispora, Pallidophorina, Hannaella, Aureobasidium, Sporobolomyces, Filobasidium, and Cystobasidium were identified. Subsequently, antagonism against B. cinerea and A. alternata was assessed in vitro and in vivo. Finally, potential modes of action such as killer phenotype, siderophore production and formation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were also evaluated. Among 38 yeast strains identified, the strain Aureobasidium leucospermi LAF2 stood out in vitro and in vivo with respect to protect blueberry fruits against B. cinerea by 58.33 % and A. alternata by 67.78 % of biocontrol efficiency at 25 °C. It also proved the ability to produce hydroxamate-type siderophores and VOCs capable of inhibiting B. cinerea growth by 48.19 %. These results suggest that fruits and flowers epiphytic microbial communities are a reservoir of potential biological control agents. A. leucospermi LAF2 is a strong candidate for a sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides in blueberry production.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104996442500180XBlueberryBotrytis cinereaAlternaria alternataBiological controlYeasts
spellingShingle Florencia Isabel Chacón
Pedro Eugenio Sineli
Santiago Bernabé Guiñazú
Fátima Micaela Alvarez
Anja Poehlein
Rolf Daniel
Julián Rafael Dib
Unveiling the potential of native Blueberry-derived yeasts as biocontrol agents against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata
Biological Control
Blueberry
Botrytis cinerea
Alternaria alternata
Biological control
Yeasts
title Unveiling the potential of native Blueberry-derived yeasts as biocontrol agents against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata
title_full Unveiling the potential of native Blueberry-derived yeasts as biocontrol agents against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata
title_fullStr Unveiling the potential of native Blueberry-derived yeasts as biocontrol agents against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata
title_full_unstemmed Unveiling the potential of native Blueberry-derived yeasts as biocontrol agents against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata
title_short Unveiling the potential of native Blueberry-derived yeasts as biocontrol agents against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata
title_sort unveiling the potential of native blueberry derived yeasts as biocontrol agents against botrytis cinerea and alternaria alternata
topic Blueberry
Botrytis cinerea
Alternaria alternata
Biological control
Yeasts
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104996442500180X
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