Pretreatment of the yeast antagonist, Candida oleophila, with glycine betaine increases oxidative stress tolerance in the microenvironment of apple wounds

In response to wounding, harvested fruit tissues of apple and citrus exhibit the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS production is greater when yeast antagonists used as biocontrol agents are applied in the wounds. These phenomena result in an oxidative stress environment for the yeast antagonists. It has been demonstrated that pre-exposure of some of these yeast antagonists to sublethal abiotic stress (heat or hydrogen peroxide), or stress-ameliorating compounds such as glycine betaine (GB) can induce subsequent oxidative stress tolerance in the antagonistic yeast. The increased level of oxidative stress tolerance has been demonstrated in vitro and is characterized by higher levels of antioxidant gene expression, increased production of trehalose, and lower levels of ROS when yeast are exposed to a subsequent oxidative stress. The current study determined whether or not the effects of GB on yeast antagonists determined in vitro persist and are present in planta when yeast are applied to wounded apples. The effect of exogenous GB on the production of ROS in the yeast antagonist, Candida oleophila, was determined after the yeast was placed in apple wounds. Oxidative damage to yeast cells recovered from apple wounds was also monitored. Results indicated that GB treatment improved the adaptation of C. oleophila to apple fruit wounds. Compared to untreated control yeast cells, GB-treated cells recovered from the oxidative stress environment of apple wounds exhibited less accumulation of ROS and lower levels of oxidative damage to cellular proteins and lipids. Additionally, GB-treated yeast exhibited greater biocontrol activity against Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea, and faster growth in wounds of apple fruits compared to untreated yeast. The expression of major antioxidant genes, including peroxisomal catalase, peroxiredoxin TSA1, and glutathione peroxidase was elevated in the yeast by GB treatment. This study supports the premise that activation of antioxidant response in biocontrol yeast can improve biocontrol efficacy.