In: Sydowia 74, (2021): 071-078; ISSN 0082-0598, DOI 10.12905/0380.sydowia74-2021-0071, Published online on August 30,2021

Non-conventional yeasts as biocontrol agents against
fungal pathogens related to postharvest diseases

Paula Reyes-Bravo, Andrea Acuña-Fontecilla, Inés Marlene Rosales & Liliana Godoy,*

Departamento de Fruticultura y Enología, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de
Chile, Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, 7820436 Macul, Santiago, Chile.
Departamento de Ciencias Vegetales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile,
Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, 7820436 Macul, Santiago, Chile.

* e-mail: liliana.godoy@uc.cl

Reyes-Bravo P., Acuña-Fontecilla A., Rosales I.M. & Godoy L. (2021) Non-conventional yeasts as biocontrol agents against
fungal pathogens related to postharvest diseases. – Sydowia 74: 71–78.
There are numerous investigations related to biological control and the use of microorganisms as new control strategies. In
this sense, yeasts have been reported to have biocontrol activity and could be interesting candidates for BCA development. The
main goal of this study was to evaluate the antagonist effect of four endophytic yeast, Naganishia antarctica YCPUC12, Aureobasidium
pullulans YCPUC14, Cryptococcus terrestris YCPUC16 and Filobasidium oeirense YCPUC41 over the growth of Botrytis
cinerea MPC40, Monilinia laxa MPC71, Penicillium expansum MPC102 and Geotrichum candidum MPC115. Three experimental
approaches were used to evaluate biocontrol effect of yeast. Two in vitro assays (agar plug diffusion and dual-culture) and one in
vivo assay. The results obtained here revealed that the four yeast strains evaluated showed inhibitory effect against the phytopathogens
tested. Furthermore, it is indicated that the inhibitory effect by the yeasts over the fungi is differential, suggesting
that there could be involved more than one antagonist-mechanism on the part of yeasts. Yeasts produce compounds capable of
inhibiting the growth of fungi and, depending on the assay, the evaluated antagonist-yeasts have differential biocontrol effect
against these pathogens. Their potential as biocontrol agents for postharvest diseases are interesting, and further investigation is
needed to verify the effectiveness of these antagonists.

Keywords: Native yeast, inhibitory activity, mycelial growth, non-chemical control methods, antagonist-mechanism.