Patulin Inhibition of Specific Apple Microbiome Members Uncovers Hanseniaspora uvarum as a Potential Biocontrol Agent

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2025 · Phytopathology®

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-24-0189-R· OSTI ID:3014195

Eagan, Justin L. ^[1]; Digman, Evan R. ^[1]; den Boon, Martijn ^[1]; Regalado, Roberto ^[1]; Rawa, Mira S. A. ^[1]; Horianopoulos, Linda C. ^[2]; Hittinger, Chris Todd ^[2]; Hull, Christina M. ^[3]; Keller, Nancy P. ^[4]

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1. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, U.S.A.
2. Laboratory of Genetics, DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, Center for Genomic Science Innovation, Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, U.S.A.
3. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, U.S.A.; Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, U.S.A.
4. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, U.S.A.; Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, U.S.A.

Penicillium expansum is a major postharvest pathogen of apples, causing loss in fruits through tissue damage, as well as in apple products due to contamination with the mycotoxin patulin. During infections, patulin is a cultivar-dependent virulence factor that facilitates apple lesion development. Patulin also has characterized antimicrobial activity and is important for inhibiting other competitive phytopathogens, but the role of this inhibitory activity has not been investigated in the context of the apple microbiome. In our current study, we isolated 68 apple microbiota and characterized their susceptibility to P. expansum extracts. We found gram-negative bacteria and basidiomycete yeast to demonstrate largely patulin-specific growth inhibition compared with gram-positive and ascomycete isolates. From co-cultures, we identified a Hanseniaspora and Gluconobacter pairing that reduced P. expansum biomass and found that H. uvarum alone is sufficient to reduce apple disease progression in vivo. We investigated possible mechanisms of H. uvarum biocontrol activity and found modest inhibition on apple puree plates, as well as a trend toward lower patulin levels at the wound site. Active biocontrol activity required live yeast, which was also effective in controlling Botrytis cinerea apple infections. Lastly, we explored the breadth of H. uvarum biocontrol activity with over 30 H. uvarum isolates and found consistent inhibition of P. expansum apple disease.

• Research Organization: Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) (GLBRC)
• Sponsoring Organization: Advanced Opportunity Fellowship through SciMed Graduate Research Scholars at University of Wisconsin-Madison; DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center; Food Research Institute Summer Scholars Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison; National Science Foundation; U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project; United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0018409
• OSTI ID: 3014195
• Journal Information: Phytopathology®, Journal Name: Phytopathology® Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 115; ISSN 0031-949X; ISSN 1943-7684
• Publisher: Scientific Societies
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Hanseniaspora uvarum
Pencillium expansium
apple microbiome
bicontrol
patulin