Intraspecific biodiversity and 'spoilage potential' of Brettanomyces bruxellensis in Apulian wines

Abstract The yeast Brettanomyces bruxellensis, generally considered the main oenological spoilage microbe, is able to survive during the winemaking process and it confers off-odors to wine, in reason of its ability to produce considerable amounts of volatile phenols. Forty-eight isolates of B. bruxellensis, obtained from several wines collected in Apulia (Southern Italy), were genetically characterized using an integrated approach, including a strain biodiversity analysis by Sau-PCR. Furthermore, the production of volatile phenols was assessed in wine and in synthetic medium, confirming the oenological spoilage potential of the analysed strains. Our findings indicate a remarkable genetic va…