TrcrtB regulates carotenoids biosynthesis, stress tolerance, conidiation and pathogenicity in the postharvest pink rot fungus, Trichothecium roseum

ABSTRACT:

Trichothecium roseum is a highly destructive postharvest pathogenic fungus that causes pink mold rot in various fruits and leads to significant agricultural and economic losses. While Phytoene is known to be crucial for phytopathogens, its roles in postharvest fungi, remain largely obscure. In this study, we evaluated the functions of TrcrtB, a phytoene synthase, in T. roseum via in vivo and in vitro assays. Our results showed that knocked out of TrcrtB inhibited phytoene and its relevant downstream metabolites, such as lycopene, carotenes and carotenal, resulting in colorless colony and branching at the mycelial edges in the knockout mutant ΔTrcrtB. Compared with the wild type (WT) strain, the colony expansion was significantly reduced 35% and 19% at 5 and 7days post-inoculation (dpi), respectively, and conidiation was notably decreased to 45%, 36%, and 70% at 3, 5, and 7 dpi in ΔTrcrtB in vitro. Scanning electron microscope observation revealed similar results. Moreover, the ΔTrcrtB showed higher sensitivity to abiotic stresses that WT, as evidenced by inhibition rates of ΔTrcrtB colony expansion up to 71.76% (menadione), 47.73% (Congo red), 23.01% (SDS), and 17.13% (KCl). The pathogenicity of ΔTrcrtB was dramatically impaired by decreasing the rotten area up to 85.26% on apple fruit and 70.30% on pears fruit. These results suggest that TrcrtB and phytoene are critical for development, stress tolerance and pathogenicity of T. roseum. Collectively, our study highlights the roles of TrcrtB and phytoene in the pathogenic fungus T. roseum and crtB was suggested as a potential target for postharvest disease control. 

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - reverse-phase

PROVIDER: MTBLS15120 | MetaboLights | 2026-07-22

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights