Wine contamination by ochratoxin a in South Italy: Causes and preventive actions

Secondary bunch rots of grapevine are caused by saprotrophic or emipathogenic fungi, including species of Aspergillus and Penicillium known for their ability to produce mycotoxins. In particular, ochratoxin A (OTA) has been recently detected in grape derivatives, such us grape juice, raisin, and win...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of plant pathology 2003-12, Vol.85 (4), p.281-281
Main Authors: Pollastro, S, Dongiovanni, C, Abbatecola, A, Tauro, G, Natale, P, Pascale, M, Visconti, A, Faretra, F
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Secondary bunch rots of grapevine are caused by saprotrophic or emipathogenic fungi, including species of Aspergillus and Penicillium known for their ability to produce mycotoxins. In particular, ochratoxin A (OTA) has been recently detected in grape derivatives, such us grape juice, raisin, and wine. A four-year monitoring programme was carried out on 24 cultivars grown in over 100 vineyards in Southern Italy. Bunch rots caused by fungi belonging to Aspergillus section Nigri prevailed. Must samples plated on DYGS or MEAS showed that the genus Aspergillus (A. niger 84%, A. carbonarius 14%, A. wentii 1.6%, A. aculeatus 0.4%) was largely prevalent on Penicillium (P. variable 43%, P. paxilli 27%, P. janthinellum 14%, P. implicatum 12%, P. purpurogenum 3%, P. brevicompactum 1%). Among these fungal species, only A. carbonarius proved be an OTA producer. OTA was found in 87% of the must samples at concentrations up to 18.7 ng ml super(-1) (average: 1.5 ng ml super(-1)). Several groups of fungicides were tested in vitro and in field trials against A. carbonarius. Anilinopyrimidines and phenylpirroles, were the most effective. Two-three sprays according to the spray schedule used against grey mould reduced A. carbonarius contamination in must and OTA contamination in wine up to 50%. SCAR (Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions) primers specific for A. carbonarius were designed starting from species-specific RAPD markers. The primer pair OPA3 sub(519)C proved specific for A. carbonarius. These primers are presently used for deriving Scorpion primers since Real-Time PCR should allow quantification of A. carbonarius directly in field samples.
ISSN:1125-4653