Multifaceted Antifungal Mechanisms of Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted from Pseudomonas chlororaphis ZL3 against Botrytis cinerea - Research Article

Sep 29, 2026

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Pseudomonas chlororaphis ZL3 was screened as a bio-control strain to inhibit Botrytis cinerea, yet the antifungal mechanism of its volatile organic compounds (VOCs) remained unclear. VOCs suppressed mycelium growth, conidia germination, and sclerotium formation. Biophysical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses showed increased relative conductivities, decreased ergosterol, enhanced membrane permeability, disrupted membrane integrity, impaired ATPase activity, reduced ROS accumulation, weakened antioxidant defense (SOD/CAT), and DEGs/metabolites linked to lipid metabolism and amino-acid/lipid metabolic alterations. These findings support VOC-mediated fumigants for future application.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages16

Reading Time40 min

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Abstract

Importance

Key Background: Botrytis cinerea and gray mold

| Biotechnology | Research Article Multifaceted antifungal mechanisms of volatile organic compounds emitted from Pseudomonas chlororaphis ZL3 against Botrytis cinerea Chunwei Wang,1 Yaxin Su,1 Wenyan Miao,1 Ziyu Jin,1 Tiankun Duan,1 Meiqin Wang,1 Yan Wang1 AUTHOR AFFILIATION See affiliation list on p. 13. ABSTRACT To develop an effective approach to inhibit Botrytis cinerea, a new bio control strain, Pseudomonas chlororaphis ZL3, was screened and exhibited excellent biocontrol potential. Nevertheless, the antifungal mechanism of P. chlororaphis volatile organic compounds (VOCs) against B. cinerea is still unclear. In this study, VOCs emitted from P. chlororaphis ZL3 were found to have potent inhibitory effects on mycelium growth, conidia germination, and sclerotium formation. Subsequently, the antifungal mechanism was revealed via the biophysical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis. Compared to the control groups, the relative conductivities increased dramatically, while the ergosterol content decreased sharply, determining that VOCs could enhance cell membrane permeability and destroy cell membrane integrity. Additionally, VOCs could also inhibit ATPase activity and reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, thereby adversely interfering with energy metabolism. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly reduced in B. cinerea mycelia, presenting the impairment of the antioxidant defense mechanism. Furthermore, most of the differential expression genes (DEGs) were involved in lipid metabolism, membrane transport, energy production, and conversion, indicating that the VOCs might affect the structure and function of cell membranes and energy metabolism. The differential metabolites were mainly involved in the alteration of amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism. Together, these findings provide valuable insights into the molecular responses of B. cinerea to P. chlororaphis ZL3 VOCs and support the potential development of novel biological fumigants. IMPORTANCE Biological control is a sustainable alternative way for the control of gray mold. The volatile organic compounds emitted from Pseudomonas chlororaphis ZL3 had high inhibitory activity against Botrytis cinerea, but the antifungal mechanism is largely unknown. This study attempted to interpret the comprehensive antifungal mechanism, providing a theoretical foundation for the application of volatile organic compound (VOC)-mediated biological fumigants in the future. KEYWORDS Pseudomonas chlororaphis, volatile organic compounds, antifungal mechanism, Botrytis cinerea, transcriptomics, metabolomics A s one of the most destructive plant pathogens, Botrytis cinerea could infect more than 1,400 plant species (belonging to 600 plant genera), including vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals, during the growth and postharvest storage period (1, 2) . B. cinerea, a necrotrophic fungal pathogen, causes large masses of gray conidia known as gray mold and was found to be associated with various diseases, such as root rot, blossom blight, leaf spot, fruit decay, and stem canker worldwide (3, 4) . Due to its short life cycle, broad host range, and high sporulation ability, B. cinerea is usually involved Editor Lindsey Price Burbank, USDA-ARS San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, Parlier, California, USA Address correspondence to Yan Wang, [yan314319@163.com](yan314319@163.com). authors declare conflict of interest in perishable fresh agricultural food and has proved to be responsible for considerable economic losses of more than €1 billion per annum (1, 3) . To avoid the risks of severe damage, chemical controls have been widely applied to prevent B. cinerea infection and reduce the microbial dissemination (1) . Currently, chemical fungicides have always been used to suppress the occurrence of gray mold in the field (5) . However, frequent use of chemicals has high risks to cause environmental pollution,

FAQs

What antifungal effects do Pseudomonas chlororaphis ZL3 VOCs have on Botrytis cinerea?

The study reports inhibition of mycelium growth, conidia germination, and sclerotium formation.

How do the VOCs affect fungal cell membrane function and integrity?

The VOCs increase relative conductivities and sharply decrease ergosterol content, indicating enhanced membrane permeability and damaged membrane integrity.

Which molecular and metabolic processes are implicated in the antifungal mechanism?

Transcriptomic and metabolomic results link differential expression genes and metabolites mainly to lipid metabolism, membrane transport, energy production/conversion, and changes in amino-acid and lipid metabolism.

Sep 29, 2026

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