Catálogo de Investigaciones | 2011-2012

CIENCIAS 40 Debaryomyces hansenii as a biological control to prevent Puerto Rican citrus crops infections by Penicillium spp Citrus crops contribute an income of 11,000,000 dollars to the Puerto Rican economy (Rivera Aquino, 2010). Penicillium spp. infects these crops causing great economic loss. Debaryomyces hansenii , a marine halotolerant yeast, has the ability to produce a killer toxin which seems to be a homologous to the KHR (killer toxin) gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae whose activity in the reduction of decay of citrus fruit caused by Penicillium sp. has been reported. Microbiology and molecular biology techniques have been used to characterize fifteen D. hansenii strains and isolate the killer toxin gene. Of the fifteen strains, only six amplified for the killer toxin gene with D. hansenii primers. Sequencing these PCR products, isolating the toxin and in vivo killer toxin activity assays will further determine D. hansenii ‘s potential as a biological control to prevent Puerto Rican citrus crops infections by Penicillium spp. and other microorganisms. taycha aguirre, nancy cruz, ronald e. rodríguez, waldemar pérez, coral álvarez y jessica quintana mentor dra. hna. nancy arroyo debaryomyces henseii citrus crops killer toxin penicillium sp