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BACKGROUND: Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a critical step in modern winemaking and the co-inoculation of lactic acid bacteria with yeasts represents an emerging approach to improve the quality of wine. This study aims to evaluate the effect of inoculation timing on the chemical and sensory characteristics of two commercial Cabernet Franc wines: (i) a control wine in which MLF was inoculated after the completion of alcoholic fermentation (AF); and (ii) a co-inoculated wine where simultaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentations occurred.RESULTS: Besides the expected full conversion of malic acid into lactic acid, the MLF with co-inoculum of yeast/bacteria at initial AF allowed for reduced fermentation times, i.e. faster winemaking process. Although important changes in the chemical parameters of wines were found, especially color intensity and volatile compounds, there was a trend on the sensory evaluation of wines with a greater perception of red and ripe fruits in the case of co-inoculation wine, while the control wine was dominated by notes of spice and herbs. The results of GC/MS analysis showed the largest differences for the 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (acetoin, the reduced form of diacetyl) and isoamyl alcohol concentrations, the former was 3.2 times higher under co-inoculum conditions, whereas the latter showed the opposite behavior. CONCLUSION: The co-inoculation protocol proposed is a valuable choice for innovative winemaking of Cabernet Franc wines, and results from a large-scale winemaking process are provided for the first time.

The fungus Fusarium verticillioides is commonly associated with maize production in temperate regions of the world, producing ear rot and grain contamination by fumonisins. Genetic resistance is the best preventive action against fumonisin contamination, although at present no commercial maize hybrids are completely resistant. Several studies of the relationship between Fusarium and other species producing ear rot suggest that these fungal species interact in similar ways with the host plant. Consequently, host plant resistance to one pathogen could be associated with resistance to another. The aim of this study was to introduce sources of resistance to Fusarium spp. into maize inbred lines and to evaluate ear rot severity and fumonisin B1 contamination in advanced breeding lines and hybrids after artificial and natural infection with F. verticillioides. Two inbred lines (CO430 and MP420) with resistance to kernel infection by Fusarium graminearum and Aspergillus flavus, respectively, were crossed and backcrossed to susceptible inbred 1203. The BC1S1 progenies were evaluated for plant morphology and silk date and the selected S1 plants were self-pollinated. The S2 families were evaluated under artificial and natural infection with F. verticillioides. Selected S2 progenies were grown ear-to-row until S5-derived inbreds were developed. The S5 lines were evaluated under artificial and natural infection and used as males to produce single crosses. In both crosses, the mean ear rot of the S5 lines with the lowest ear rot was not significantly different from the resistant parent means. Significant progress was observed in the hybrids regarding ear rot performance: on average, ear rot severity decreased significantly from 23% in check hybrids to 5.3% in CO430-derived hybrids. Our results suggest that inbred lines bred for resistance to A. flavus and F. graminearum ear rot could be used to select advanced breeding lines with increased resistances to F. verticillioides ear rot.

The chances of predicting CDH outcome are fairly high. During prenatal age, only a few findings may be obtained. Conversely, many postnatal indexes and scores can reliably predict such outcome.

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