Abstract
Mycotoxins are a prevalent problem for stored fruits, grains, and vegetables. Alternariol, aflatoxin, and patulin, produced by Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp., and Penicillium spp., are the major mycotoxins that negatively affect human and animal health and reduce fruit and produce quality. Control strategies for these toxins are varied, but one method that is increasing in interest is through host microbiome manipulation, mirroring a biocontrol approach. While the majority of mycotoxins and other secondary metabolites (SM) produced by fungi impact host–fungal interactions, there is also an interplay between the various organisms within the host microbiome. In addition to SMs, these interactions involve compounds such as signaling molecules, plant defense and growth hormones, and metabolites produced by both the plants and microbial community. Therefore, studies to understand the impact of the various toxins impacting the beneficial and harmful microorganisms that reside within the microbiome is warranted, and could lead to identification of safe analogs for antimicrobial activity to reduce fruit decay. Additionally, exploring the composition of the microbial carposphere of host plants is likely to shed light on developing a microbial consortium to maintain quality during storage and abate mycotoxin contamination.
Highlights
There are an estimated 2.2–3.8 million fungal species based on phylogenetic classification and genomic characterizations (Hawksworth and Lücking, 2017)
Whether the impact was exclusively due to the toxins produced is yet to be determined. These findings suggest a potential for discovery of safe mycotoxin analogs for prevention of undesirable and harmful microbial proliferation, and provides evidence that mycotoxins could induce population shifts in the existing microbial communities of the fruit surface
By no means does this review encompass every aspect of this complex tri-trophic system
Summary
There are an estimated 2.2–3.8 million fungal species based on phylogenetic classification and genomic characterizations (Hawksworth and Lücking, 2017). These fungi produce and secrete a diverse array of secondary metabolite (SM) compounds. SM production is influenced by a suite of interactions between the many diverse organisms within the carposphere (collective term for all Postharvest Host–Pathogen–Microbe Interactions the microbes that inhabit the fruit surface) (Berg et al, 2016). The production of mycotoxins and other SMs collectively, by phytopathogenic fungi, plays an important role in the development and competition of the organisms within the biofilm matrix (van Rij et al, 2005; Bacon et al, 2006; Martín-Rodríguez et al, 2014)
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