Trichothecium roseum

Genus/species: Trichothecium roseum

Classification: Ascomycete

Morphology:

  • Cell: ellipsoidal, filamentous; young conidia are aseptate
  • Colony: Malt agar: Flat, pink colonies
  • Spore:  conidiospores ellipsoidal to pyriform, 15-20 x 7.5-10 micrometers, constricted at or near the septum (Watanabe). Septum develops when young conidia mature. Initially they are aseptate.
  • Zygote:
  • Ascus:
  • Liquid Growth:

Physiological Traits:

Produces in vitro as well as in vivo the toxic metabolites trichothecin, trichothecolone and rosenonolactone (Schwenk).

Ecological Traits:

Found in soil, decaying plant material and also found on grapevine berries particularly with high humidity or following rain; normally associated with Botrytis infection.

Role in wine:

Grapevine disease agent, cause of pink rot

Can cause a bitter taste in wines made from infected berries

Sensitivities:

  • SO2:
  • Sorbate­­­­­:
  • DMDC:
  • pH:
  • Acids:
  • Ethanol:
  • Anaerobiosis:
  • Heat:

References:

  • Schwenk, S. "Significance of toxic metabolites of the fungus Trichothecium roseum Link ex Fr. for viticulture." (1989): 527530.
  • Watanabe, Tsueno. Pictorial atlas of soil and seed fungi.