Interaction between fenhexamid and yeasts during the alcoholic fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The behavior of the fungicide fenhexamid, N-(2,3-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methyl-cyclohexanecarboxamide, has been studied at concentrations corresponding to the limits fixed for grapes (3 mg kg(-1)), or higher, during the alcoholic fermentation. The presence of the fungicide did not affect the amount of alcohol produced. The amount of fenhexamid in the liquid phase decreased by ca. 15%, but the missing fenhexamid was recovered unchanged from yeasts. This suggests that the fungicide is not degraded during the fermentation process, but adsorbed by yeasts. Two constituents of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall, chitin and glucan, tested as potential adsorbents, exhibited affinity for fenhexamid.