Molecular Identification of Yeasts Associated With Pineapple Fruit Collapse in the State of Alagoas, Brazil

ABSTRACT Pineapple ( Ananas comosus ) is a tropical fruit, native to South America, of major economic importance in Brazil. In a producing area of Alagoas State, fruits at different ripening stages exhibited liquid exudation from the peel surface, often accompanied by the formation of gas bubbles. Yeast‐like fungi belonging to the genera Pseudozyma and Meyerozyma were isolated from symptomatic tissues. Based on multilocus analyses (ITS and LSU) and morphological characteristics, the isolates were identified as Pseudozyma sp. and Meyerozyma caribbica , both of which were confirmed to be pathogenic on pineapple fruits. This study represents the first report of Pseudozyma sp. and M. caribbica associated with pineapple fruit collapse in Brazil and worldwide.