AUTHOR=Wu Fangfang , Wang Haibo , Lin Yankun , Qu Zesheng , Zheng Bin , Feng Shun , Li Xinguo 

TITLE=2-Heptanol inhibits Botrytis cinerea by accelerating amino acid metabolism and retarding membrane transport

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1400164

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1400164

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>During the postharvest storage of tomatoes, they are susceptible to infection by <italic>Botrytis cinerea</italic>, leading to significant economic losses. This study evaluated the antifungal potential of 2-heptanol (2-HE), a volatile biogenic compound, against <italic>B. cinerea</italic> and explored the underlying antifungal mechanism. The results indicated that 2-HE effectively suppressed the growth of <italic>B. cinerea</italic> mycelia both <italic>in vivo</italic> and <italic>in vitro</italic> and stimulated the activities of antioxidative enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in tomatoes. Furthermore, 2-HE reduced spore viability, compromised membrane integrity, and resulted in increased levels of extracellular nucleic acids, protein content, and membrane lipid peroxidation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 2-HE disrupted the membrane transport system and enhanced amino acid metabolism, which led to intracellular nutrient depletion and subsequent <italic>B. cinerea</italic> cell death. Additionally, the 2-HE treatment did not negatively impact the appearance or quality of the tomatoes. In conclusion, the findings of this study offer insights into the use of 2-HE as a biocontrol agent in food and agricultural applications.</p>