Degradation of biogenic amines by vineyard ecosystem fungi. Potential use in winemaking

To evaluate the ability of grapevine ecosystem fungi to degrade histamine, tyramine and putrescine in synthetic medium and in wines.

Grapevine and vineyard soil fungi were isolated from four locations of Spain and were subsequently identified by PCR. A total of 44 fungi were evaluated for in vitro amine degradation in a microfermentation system. Amine degradation by fungi was assayed by reversed-phase (RP)-HPLC. All fungi were able to degrade at least two different primary amines. Species of Pencillium citrinum, Alternaria sp., Phoma sp., Ulocladium chartarum and Epicoccum nigrum were found to exhibit the highest capacity for amine degradation. In a second experiment, cell-free supernatants of P. citrinum CIAL-274,760 (CECT 20782) grown in yeast carbon base with histamine, tyramine or putrescine, were tested for their ability to degrade amines in three different wines (red, white and synthetic). The highest levels of biogenic amine degradation were obtained with histamine-induced enzymatic extract.

The study highlighted the ability of grapevine ecosystem fungi to degrade biogenic amines and their potential application for biogenic amines removal in wine.

The fungi extracts described in this study may be useful in winemaking to reduce the biogenic amines content of wines, thereby preventing the possible adverse effects on health in sensitive individuals and the trade and export of wine.