Aureobasidium pullulans  (de Bary) G. Arnaud 1918

Browning of the stalk

A. pullulans is a yeast-like fungus widespread worldwide, present in many ecological niches including forest soils, fresh and sea waters, but also living or dead animal and plant tissues. It is known to degrade paints, certain woods, various fruits (tomato, green bean, cabbage, cucumber, pear, grape, orange) during storage and transport, and fruit juices.

On vines, it is frequently highlighted during our microbiological isolations carried out from its various organs, without being responsible for any damage. It is occasionally associated with the browning of the stalk which has no consequences for the vines.

It should be noted that certain strains of A pullulans have revealed potentialities for the biological control of various pathogenic fungi of plants, for example on a bunch of grapes with regard to Penicillium digitatum , Botrytis cinerea , Rhizopus stolonifer . It would also be endophyte in the vine. Moreover, the use of organic fungicides would have the particular consequence of increasing its population levels on grape berries.