Six Phaeoacremonium species (spp.) were isolated from symptomatic wood of olive trees (Olea europea) in Apulia (southern Italy) that showed crown wilt and twig and branch dieback. These Phaeoacremonium spp. were identified according to their morphological characteristics and by analyses of partial sequences of the actin and β-tubulin genes. Combining these cultural, morphological and molecular data, three Phaeoacremonium spp. were isolated that are already known to be responsible for severe decline of olive in Apulia, Phaeoacremonium aleophilum, Phaeoacremonium al vesii and Phaeoacremonium parasiticum, together with three other Phaeoacremonium spp. that are associated for the first time with wilt, decline and dieback of olive orchards in Italy and worldwide: Phaeoacremonium italicum, Phaeoacremonium sicilianum and Phaeoacremonium scolyti. To understand and to confirm their involvement in wilt and decline of olive trees, pathogenicity assays were performed on shoots of young olive plants. The data indicate that all six of these Phaeoacremonium spp. can cause discolouration, necrotic wood, and death of shoots, although different levels of virulence were observed, with Pm. italicum, Pm. aleophilum and Pm. sicilianum producing greater necrotic lesions than the other Phaeoacremonium spp. investigated here.

This study was carried out in 2012 at Stornarella (Italy; 41° 15'29" N; 15° 43'56" E; 154 m a.s.l.). We investigated the effects of reuse of secondary treated agro-industrial wastewater for irrigation, in comparison with conventional groundwater, and we monitored soil chemical characteristics and fungal populations during the crop cycle of processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Compared to the groundwater, the wastewater had significantly higher electrical conductivity, total suspended solids, sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium adsorption ratio, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand over five days, ammoniumnitrogen, phenols, bicarbonates, phosphates, sulphates and chlorides. Most of these parameters were significantly greater also in the wastewater-irrigated soil. During the tomato crop cycle, there were significant shifts in the structure of the soil microfungal community. Saprophytic species increased in the wastewater-treated soil, while phytopathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum progressively decreased. More investigations into the mechanisms by which wastewater acts on disease suppression is needed to make the use of such wastewaters more predictable. The irrigation water source did not significantly affect the qualitative traits of the crop yield. For both irrigation treatments, the most important qualitative parameters that characterized the processing tomato fruit (i.e., dry matter content, pH, soluble solid content, colour parameters) were in agreement with reports in the literature.

Aims:  This study was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of high‐pressure homogenization (HPH) against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris. Methods and Results:  The susceptibility of three different strains of A. acidoterrestris (DSMZ 2498, Γ4 and c8) to HPH (500–1700 bar) was studied. The experiments were performed in a laboratory medium (malt extract broth) on cells and spores. HPH caused a significant reduction of the initial cell number (1–2 log CFU ml−1 at the highest pressures) in Γ4 and DSMZ 2498 strains, whereas the effect on the spores was less significant. Conclusions:  This study showed that the susceptibility of A. acidoterrestris to HPH was strain‐dependent: DSMZ 2498 seemed the most susceptible strain, whereas c8 was the most resistant one. Significance and Impact of the Study:  The results of our study will provide useful information on the sensitivity of an emerging spoilage micro‐organism, such as A. acidoterrrestris, to HPH.

Botryosphaeriaceae spp. have a cosmopolitan distribution and a wide range of plant hosts. Over the last 15 years, worldwide, 21 species of this family have been associated with grapevine trunk diseases that cause cankers and dieback on grapevines. Here, we surveyed vineyards of Vitis vinifera ‘Lambrusco’, ‘Sangiovese’, and ‘Montepulciano’ in three areas of the Foggia province (Cerignola, Foggia, and San Severo) in southern Italy. Wood samples from grapevines showing general decline, dieback, cankers, and wood and foliar discoloration yielded 344 fungal isolates identified as Botryosphaeriaceae spp. A phylogenetic study combining internal transcribed spacer and translation elongation factor 1-α sequences of 60 representative isolates identified nine botryosphaeriaceous species: Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia corticola, D. mutila, D. seriata, Dothiorella iberica, Do. sarmentorum, Lasiodiplodia citricola, L. theobromae, and Neofusicoccum parvum. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that all nine species cause canker and dieback of grapevines. However, this is the first report of L. citricola as causal agent of wood cankers and dieback of grapevine. To date, including L. citricola, there are 25 botryosphaeriaceous species associated with V. vinifera worldwide, of which 12 have been reported for grapevines in Italy.

The metabiotic effects of Fusarium proliferatum, F. avenaceum, and F. oxysporum on Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in fresh tomatoes were investigated. Tomatoes were preinoculated with the molds and incubated at 15 degrees C for 7 days; then they were inoculated separately with the pathogens, packaged in air and modified atmosphere (5% O2, 30% CO2, and 65% N2), and stored at 4, 8, and 12 degrees C for 9 days. The cell loads of pathogens and lactic acid bacteria and the pH were evaluated periodically. The data were modeled through some different mathematical models to assess the shoulder length, i.e., the time before the beginning of the exponential death phase, the 1-log reduction time (s), and the pathogen death time (deltastand). The preinoculation of tomatoes with the molds enhanced the survival of E. coli O157:H7 by prolonging shoulder length and 8 parameters; this effect, however, was not observed for L. monocytogenes. pH values did not undergo significant changes within the storage time, and the lactic acid bacteria increased from 5 to 7 log CFU/g, without significant differences among the storage temperatures or the packaging atmospheres. The results of this research showed that the use of fresh tomatoes colonized by fusaria (even if the contamination is not visible) could increase significantly the risk of outbreaks due to some pathogens that could be on the surface of fruits and vegetables as a result of cross-contamination at home or incorrect postharvest operations.

Some isolates (for example Aspergillus ochraceus) showed a promising trend and could be possible candidates for a validation on a real scale. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

The aim of this study was to investigate the proteolytic ability of some strains of aspergilli, fusaria, and penicillia and the metabiotic effect of Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium expansum on Salmonella. The proteolytic activity of the target molds was determined on tomato juice agar and tomato juice, whereas the metabiotic effect of F. oxysporum and P. expansum on Salmonella was assessed in a model system consisting of tryptone soy broth with different amounts of tomato juice added. Fusaria, some aspergilli, and one strain of penicillium showed a proteolytic activity on tomato juice agar. In addition, Salmonella survival was enhanced in tryptone soy broth plus 20 or 50% tomato juice in the model system previously inoculated with F. oxysporum.

Reuse of olive mill wastewaters (OMWWs) in agriculture represents a significant challenge for health and safety of our planet. Phytotoxic compounds in OMWW generally prohibit use of untreated OMWWs for agricultural irrigation or direct discharge into surface waters. However, pretreated OMWW can have positive effects on chemical and microbiological soil characteristics, to fight against fungal soil-borne pathogens. Low amounts of OMWW following thermal (TT-OMWW) and high-pressure homogenization (HPH-OMWW) pretreatments counteracted growth of some of 12 soil-borne and/or pathogenic fungi examined. With fungal growth measured as standardized change in time to half maximum colony diameter, Δτ, overall, HPH-OMWW showed increased bioactivity, as increased mean Δτ from 3.0 to 4.8 days. Principal component analysis highlighted two fungal groups: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Alternaria alternata, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Rosellinia necatrix, with growth strongly inhibited by the treated OMWWs; and Aspergillus ochraceus and Phaeoacremonium parasiticum, with stimulated growth by the treated OMWWs. As a non-thermal treatment, HPH-OMWW generally shows improved positive effects, which potentially arise from preservation of the phenols.