Effects of flusilazole, a sterol biosynthesis inhibitor fungicide, on the free and bound aroma fraction of Muscat of Alexandria wines

Abstract

Vines from Muscat of Alexandria cultivar were subjected to flusilazole treatments, a sterol biosynthesis inhibitor fungicide (SBI), over 2 years. Effects of these treatments on the corresponding wines were assessed by analyzing the free and bound aroma fractions using selective retention on Amberlite XAD-2 and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Quantitative changes in the composition of the free and bound fractions of the treated wines were observed. Levels of varietal, prefermentative and fermentative compounds were moditied and a regulatory mechanism for sterol synthesis in yeast involving the monoterpenes could be hypothesized.