Over 50 isolates were isolated from olives as previously described (18). Briefly, 5 g olives were homogenised with 45 ml Ringers solution using a stomacher at 300 bpm for 1 min (Stomacher circular 400, Seward, UK). Homogenate was serially diluted in Ringers solution, and 100 µl of each dilution plated on MRS agar (Oxoid) plates supplemented with 100 µg/mL cycloheximide (Sigma) to suppress fungal growth.