Impact of antagonistic yeasts from wine grapes on growth and mycotoxin production by Alternaria alternata.

AIMS: Alternaria alternata is a major contaminant of wine grapes, meaning a health risk for wine consumers due to the accumulation of toxic metabolites. To develop a successful biofungicide, the effectiveness of epiphytic wine grape yeasts against A. alternata growth and toxin production was assessed in vitro under temperature and aW conditions that simulate those present in the field. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effect of 14 antagonistic yeasts was evaluated on growth and alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TA) production by three A. alternata strains in a synthetic medium with composition similar to grape (SN) at three temperatures (15, 25 and 30°C). All Metschnikowia sp. yeast strains evaluated completely prevented A. alternata growth and mycotoxin production at all temperatures in SN medium. Meanwhile, the growth inhibition exerted by Starmerella bacillaris yeast strains was higher at 30°C, followed by 25 and 15°C, being able to show a stimulating or inhibiting effect. Hanseniaspora uvarum yeast strains showed a growth promoting activity higher at 15°C, followed by 25 and 30°C. Even at conditions where A. alternata growth was stimulated by the S. bacillaris and H. uvarum yeasts, high inhibitions of mycotoxin production (AOH, AME and TA) were observed, indicating a complex interaction between growth and mycotoxin production. CONCLUSION: There is a significant influence of temperature on the effectiveness of biocontrol against A. alternata growth and mycotoxin production. Metschnikowia sp. strains are good candidates to compose a biofungicide against A. alternata. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Among the different antagonistic yeasts evaluated, only Metschnikowia sp. strains were equally effective reducing A. alternata growth and mycotoxin at different temperatures underlining the importance of considering environmental factors in the selection of the antagonists.

Microclima, produção e composição do mosto da ‘Syrah cultivada sob cobertura de plástico / Microclimate, yield and must composition of Syrah grapevine cultivated under plastic cover

Foi feita a caracterização do microclima do vinhedo, das variáveis de produção das videiras e das propriedades físico-químicas do mosto da uva para vinho ‘Syrah cultivada com cobertura e sem cobertura de plástico impermeável (ráfia). As videiras foram sustentadas em Y e manejadas em regime de safra de inverno na região produtora de uvas de Louveira, SP. Durante o período da maturação das uvas foram feitas determinações, na altura dos cachos, da radiação solar e da temperatura do ar. Na colheita foram determinadas as variáveis fitotécnicas (número de ramos, número de cachos, massa dos cachos e produtividade) e físico-químicas do mosto (teor de sólidos solúveis, acidez total, teor de ácido tartárico, antocianinas, polifenóis totais e taninos). Os valores de temperatura máxima do ar foram superiores nas videiras sob cobertura de plástico em comparação às cultivadas a céu aberto enquanto a radiação solar foi mais elevada na condição sem cobertura. A produtividade e o teor de sólidos solúveis totais foram mais elevados para as videiras sob cobertura de plástico. Não foi observada influência da cobertura de plástico impermeável nos teores de antocianina, polifenóis totais e taninos das uvas.(AU)

The characterization of vineyard microclimate, plant variables and must physicochemical properties of the 'Syrah' wine grape was done for plants cultivated with and without waterproof plastic cover (“ráfia”). The grapevines were trained in Y-shaped trellis and cultivated during the winter growing season in the grape growing region of Louveira-SP, Brazil. During the grape maturation period, measurements of solar radiation and air temperature were taken at cluster height. In the harvest, the plant variables (number of branches, number of clusters, bunch weight and yield) and must physicochemical characteristics (soluble solids content, total titratable acidity, tartaric acid, anthocyanin, total polyphenols and tannins) were determined. Maximum temperature values were higher under plastic cover when compared to the open sky condition while solar radiation values were higher for the open sky condition. Yield and total soluble solids content values were higher for vines grown under plastic cover. No influence of the use of plastic cover was found for the levels of anthocyanin, total polyphenols and tannin of berries.(AU)

Microclima, produção e composição do mosto da ‘Syrah’ cultivada sob cobertura de plástico / Microclimate, yield and must composition of Syrah grapevine cultivated under plastic cover

Foi feita a caracterização do microclima do vinhedo, das variáveis de produção das videiras e das propriedades físico-químicas do mosto da uva para vinho ‘Syrah’ cultivada com cobertura e sem cobertura de plástico impermeável (ráfia). As videiras foram sustentadas em Y e manejadas em regime de safra de inverno na região produtora de uvas de Louveira, SP. Durante o período da maturação das uvas foram feitas determinações, na altura dos cachos, da radiação solar e da temperatura do ar. Na colheita foram determinadas as variáveis fitotécnicas (número de ramos, número de cachos, massa dos cachos e produtividade) e físico-químicas do mosto (teor de sólidos solúveis, acidez total, teor de ácido tartárico, antocianinas, polifenóis totais e taninos). Os valores de temperatura máxima do ar foram superiores nas videiras sob cobertura de plástico em comparação às cultivadas a céu aberto enquanto a radiação solar foi mais elevada na condição sem cobertura. A produtividade e o teor de sólidos solúveis totais foram mais elevados para as videiras sob cobertura de plástico. Não foi observada influência da cobertura de plástico impermeável nos teores de antocianina, polifenóis totais e taninos das uvas.

The characterization of vineyard microclimate, plant variables and must physicochemical properties of the 'Syrah' wine grape was done for plants cultivated with and without waterproof plastic cover (“ráfia”). The grapevines were trained in Y-shaped trellis and cultivated during the winter growing season in the grape growing region of Louveira-SP, Brazil. During the grape maturation period, measurements of solar radiation and air temperature were taken at cluster height. In the harvest, the plant variables (number of branches, number of clusters, bunch weight and yield) and must physicochemical characteristics (soluble solids content, total titratable acidity, tartaric acid, anthocyanin, total polyphenols and tannins) were determined. Maximum temperature values were higher under plastic cover when compared to the open sky condition while solar radiation values were higher for the open sky condition. Yield and total soluble solids content values were higher for vines grown under plastic cover. No influence of the use of plastic cover was found for the levels of anthocyanin, total polyphenols and tannin of berries.

The Consumption of Beef Burgers Prepared with Wine Grape Pomace Flour Improves Fasting Glucose, Plasma Antioxidant Levels, and Oxidative Damage Markers in Humans: A Controlled Trial.

Wine grape pomace flour (WGPF) is a fruit byproduct that is high in fiber and antioxidants. We tested whether WGPF consumption could affect blood biochemical parameters, including oxidative stress biomarkers. In a three-month intervention study, 27 male volunteers, each with some components of metabolic syndrome, consumed a beef burger supplemented with 7% WGPF containing 3.5% of fiber and 1.2 mg gallic equivalents (GE)/g of polyphenols (WGPF-burger), daily, during the first month. The volunteers consumed no burgers in the second month, and one control-burger daily in the third month. At baseline and after these periods, we evaluated the metabolic syndrome components, plasma antioxidant status (i.e., 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity (DPPH), vitamin E, vitamin C), and oxidative damage markers (i.e., advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs), malondialdehyde (MDA)). The WGPF-burger intake significantly reduced glycemia and homeostatic model assessment-based measurement of insulin resistance. Vitamin C increased and decreased during the consumption of the WGPF-burger and control-burger, respectively. The WGPF-burger intake significantly decreased AOPP and oxLDL levels. Vitamin E and MDA levels showed no significant changes. In conclusion, the consumption of beef burgers prepared with WGPF improved fasting glucose and insulin resistance, plasma antioxidant levels, and oxidative damage markers. Therefore, this functional ingredient has potential as a dietary supplement to manage chronic disease risk in humans.

Antioxidant and anti hyperglycemic role of wine grape powder in rats fed with a high fructose diet

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a growing worldwide health problem. We evaluated the effects of wine grape powder (WGP), rich in antioxidants and fiber, in a rat model of metabolic syndrome induced by a high fructose diet. We tested whether WGP supplementation may prevent glucose intolerance and decrease oxidative stress in rats fed with a high fructose diet. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 180 g were divided into four groups according to their feeding protocols. Rats were fed with control diet (C), control plus 20 % WGP (C + WGP), 50 % high fructose (HF) or 50 % fructose plus 20 % WGP (HF + WGP) for 16 weeks. Blood glucose, insulin and triglycerides, weight, and arterial blood pressure were measured. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index was calculated using insulin and glucose values. A glucose tolerance test was performed 2 days before the end of the experiment. As an index of oxidative stress, thio-barbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level was measured in plasma and kidney, and superoxide dismutase was measured in the kidney. RESULTS: Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in plasma and renal tissue were significantly higher when compared to the control group. In addition, the area under the curve of the glucose tolerance test was higher in HF fed animals. Furthermore, fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin levels, and the HOMA index, were also increased. WGP supplementation prevented these alterations in rats fed with the HF diet. We did not find any significant difference in body weight or systolic blood pressure in any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that WGP supplementation prevented hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and reduced oxidative stress in rats fed with HF diet. We propose that WGP may be used as a supplement in human food as well.

Wine grape pomace flour improves blood pressure, fasting glucose and protein damage in humans: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: The Mediterranean diet is a healthy diet with positive scientific evidence of preventing chronic diseases. Bioactive components support the healthy properties of the Mediterranean diet. Antioxidants and fiber, two components of the Mediterranean diet, are key functional nutrients for healthy eating and nutrition. Wine grape pomace is a rich source of these dietary constituents and may be beneficial for human health. Our hypothesis was that the intake of red wine grape pomace flour (WGPF) prepared from red wine grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon variety) reduced the metabolic syndrome in humans. To evaluate the effect of WGPF on components of metabolic syndrome we design a 16-week longitudinal intervention study. Thirty-eight males, 30-65 years of age, with at least one component of metabolic syndrome, were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 25) or the control group (n = 13). At lunch, the intervention group was given 20 g of WGPF per day, which contained 10 g of dietary fiber, 822 mg of polyphenols and an antioxidant capacity of 7258 ORAC units. Both groups were asked to maintain their regular eating habits and lifestyles. Clinical evaluation, anthropometric measurements and biochemical blood analyses were done at the beginning and the end of the study. RESULTS: WGPF intake significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as fasting glucose levels. Plasma γ-tocopherol and δ-tocopherol increased and carbonyl group in plasma protein decreased in WGPT group, significantly. No significant effect was observed for waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, total antioxidant capacity and vitamin C in and between groups. The group-dependent magnitude of the differences between the baseline and final postprandial insulin values and γ-tocopherol concentrations was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of WGPF-rich in fiber and polyphenol antioxidants, as a food supplement in a regular diet improves blood pressure, glycaemia and postprandial insulin. In addition, increased antioxidant defenses and decreased oxidative protein damage indicating attenuation of oxidative stress. WGPF might be a useful food ingredient for health promotion and chronic disease prevention.