NOVEL STRAIN OF THE YEAST CANDIDA SAKE (SAITO AND OTA) VAN UDEN AND BUCKLEY AND ITS USE AS BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT IN FUNGAL DISEASES OF POSTHARVERSTED FRUITS

摘要

There is disclosed a novel strain of the yeast Candida sake (Saito and Ota) van Uden and Buckley and its use as biological control agents for fungal diseases of postharvested fruits. Said strain, deposited with the number CECT-10817, is used as antagonist of fungi responsible for the fruit rot after it has been harvested and during the storage period. The effectiveness of said antagonist is very high and is comparable to that of antifungal chemical products widly used. Said activity is intensively elicited particurarly in low temperature storage conditions and in low oxygen environments. The antogonist is efficient to combat rot caused by, among other micro-organisms, the fungi of the species Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum and Rhizopus nigricans.