Iturin A Induces Resistance and Improves the Quality and Safety of Harvested Cherry Tomato

Mengxi Jiang,Zhaoxin Lu,Huawei Liu,Xiaomei Bie,Xinyi Pang,Fengxia Lu,Yingjian Lu,Fuxing Lin

doi:10.3390/molecules26226905

Mengxi Jiang, Zhaoxin Lu + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26226905

Copy DOI

Abstract

The soft rot disease caused by Rhizopus stolonifer is an important disease in cherry tomato fruit. In this study, the effect of iturin A on soft rot of cherry tomato and its influence on the storage quality of cherry tomato fruit were investigated. The results showed that 512 μg/mL of iturin A could effectively inhibit the incidence of soft rot of cherry tomato fruit. It was found that iturin A could induce the activity of resistance-related enzymes including phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), glucanase (GLU), and chitinase (CHI), and active oxygen-related enzymes including ascorbate peroxidases (APX), superoxide dismutases (SOD), catalases (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) of cherry tomato fruit. In addition, iturin A treatment could slow down the weight loss of cherry tomato and soften the fruit. These results indicated that iturin A could retard the decay and improve the quality of cherry tomato fruit by both the inhibition growth of R. stolonifera and the inducing the resistance.

Highlights

The resistance of fruits and vegetables to natural diseases after harvest is usually reduced, leading to postharvest diseases
Our results showed that iturin A could increase the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), POD, GLU, and CHI in cherry tomato fruit, with the highest activity obtained at 24 h
The present results showed that iturin A enhanced the activity of ascorbate peroxidases (APX), superoxide dismutases (SOD), CAT, and glutathione reductase (GR), and upregulated the expression of these genes of cherry tomato fruit

Summary

Introduction

The resistance of fruits and vegetables to natural diseases after harvest is usually reduced, leading to postharvest diseases. About 20–25% of fruits and vegetables are rotted by pathogens after harvest every year, while the number increased to 30–50% in developing countries due to insufficient refrigeration and transportation equipment [1,2]. Fungicide is one of the most commonly used methods to reduce fungal decay. There are safety risks with fungicides, such as damage to ecological balance, contamination of groundwater, and food safety issues [3]. Induced resistance enhances the self-defense ability of plants and is a method of replacing fungicides. Induced resistance is divided into induced system resistance (ISR) and systemic acquired resistance (SAR). ISR produces resistance in infection sites, while SAR produces resistance in healthy parts [4]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion