Insights into the Adaptation of <i>Geotrichum citri-aurrantii</i> in Highly Acidic Environments.

ABSTRACT: Sour rot is a significant postharvest disease affecting citrus fruit, causing sourness and decay in various cultivars, particularly lemons. How the pathogen, Geotrichum citri-aurantii, adapts to the highly acidic environment of citrus fruit remains inadequately understood. In this study, the growth characteristics, morphological and structural changes, gene expression profiles, and adaptive mechanisms of G. citri-aurantii under highly acidic conditions were elucidated. The findings indicated that G. citri-aurantii modified the environmental pH by either alkalizing (pH < 3.00) or acidifying (pH > 3.00) the host tissue. It exhibited strong adaptability at pH 2.2, showing shortened and aggregated hyphae, delayed spore germination, and increased vacuoles. Transcriptomic an

SUBMITTER: Niu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12941410 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature