More than a Virulence Factor: Patulin Is a Non-Host-Specific Toxin that Inhibits Postharvest Phytopathogens and Requires Efflux for Penicillium Tolerance

• Published in: Phytopathology 2022-05, Vol.112 (5), p.1165-1174
• Main Authors: Bartholomew, Holly P, Bradshaw, Michael J, Macarisin, Otilia, Gaskins, Verneta L, Fonseca, Jorge M, Jurick, 2nd, Wayne M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fruit - microbiology; Malus - microbiology; Patulin - analysis; Patulin - pharmacology; Penicillium; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Plant Diseases - prevention & control; Virulence
• ISSN: 0031-949X; 1943-7684
• DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-09-21-0371-R

Mycotoxin contamination is a leading cause of food spoilage and waste on a global scale. Patulin, a mycotoxin produced by spp. during postharvest pome fruit decay, causes acute and chronic effects in humans, withstands pasteurization, and is not eliminated by fermentation. While much is known about the impact of patulin on human health, there are significant knowledge gaps concerning the effect of patulin during postharvest fruit-pathogen interactions. Application of patulin on six apple cultivars reproduced some blue mold symptoms that were cultivar-independent and dose-dependent. Identical symptoms were also observed in pear and mandarin orange. Six isolates exposed to exogenous patulin exhibited delayed germination after 24 h, yet all produced viable colonies in 7 days. However, four common postharvest phytopathogenic fungi were completely inhibited by patulin during conidial germination and growth, suggesting the toxin is important for to dominate the postharvest niche. Using clorgyline, a broad-spectrum efflux pump inhibitor, we demonstrated that efflux plays a role in auto-resistance to patulin during conidial germination. The work presented here contributes new knowledge of patulin auto-resistance, its mode of action, and inhibitory role in fungal-fungal interactions. Our findings provide a solid foundation to develop toxin and decay mitigation approaches.