Wuyiencin reduces the virulence and patulin production of Penicillium expansum by interfering with its membrane integrity and the patulin synthesis pathway

Fruit decay and toxin contamination caused by pathogenic fungi have attracted public attention. As the causal agent of blue mold, Penicillium expansum has caused serious losses to various fruit. Additionally, P. expansum produces patulin, a carcinogenic toxin that can contaminate fruit and fruit products. Wuyiencin has been widely used to control fungal diseases. However, the inhibitory effects of wuyiencin on P. expansum and its mechanisms of action are still unclear. In this study, the effects of wuyiencin on the growth, spore germination, virulence and patulin production of P. expansum were investigated. Possible mechanisms were examined and verified by transcriptomic analysis, RT-qPCR, FDA/PI staining and cell leakage detection. Wuyiencin inhibited the growth, spore germination, virulence and patulin production of P. expansum. A large number of genes encoding membrane proteins were up-regulated and expressed. However, genes encoding membrane-bound organelles were down-regulated under wuyiencin treatment. The integrity of the cell membrane was destroyed. In addition, the expression of some genes related to patulin synthesis and translation/protein processing was altered. These results suggested that wuyiencin effectively controlled the growth, spore germination, virulence, and patulin production of P. expansum by destroying cell membrane integrity and altering the expression of patulin synthesis-related genes and translation/protein processing related genes.