Post-Harvest Biocontrol of Penicillium Rot of Table Grapes by Using Antagonist Debaryomyces hansenii Zopf

The yeast Debaryomyces hansenii Zopf. isolated from the surface of grape berries inhibited incidence of Penicillium rot of grape effectively. Efficacy of D. hansenii was maintained when applied simultaneously or prior to inoculation with Penicillium chrysogenum Thorn. However, the efficacy was reduced when D. hansenii was applied after inoculation of the pathogen. The yeast antagonist also reduced the incidence of Penicillium rot of injured, naturally infected grapes stored at 25°C for 9 days.