The response of fungal community on citrus fruit surface to the application of Metschnikowia citriensis
Metschnikowia citriensis is an antagonistic yeast that was isolated from citrus systems, effectively controls postharvest green mold, blue mold, and sour rot in citrus fruits. This study explored its biocontrol mechanisms by treating citrus fruits with 1 × 108 cells mL−1 M. citriensis and analyzing...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Biological Control |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964425001215 |
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| author | Hongyan Zhang Shupei Wang Lanhua Yi Jian Ming Kaifang Zeng |
| author_facet | Hongyan Zhang Shupei Wang Lanhua Yi Jian Ming Kaifang Zeng |
| author_sort | Hongyan Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Metschnikowia citriensis is an antagonistic yeast that was isolated from citrus systems, effectively controls postharvest green mold, blue mold, and sour rot in citrus fruits. This study explored its biocontrol mechanisms by treating citrus fruits with 1 × 108 cells mL−1 M. citriensis and analyzing fungal community dynamics via amplicon sequencing. The treatment significant reduced weight loss, disease incidence, and disease index of citrus fruits. Fungal diversity on order- and genus-level on fruit surfaces initially declined but recovered after 28 days, with M. citriensis-treated fruits showing higher species richness than controls. M. citriensis altered fungal community structure, specifically, there was a clear alteration of the microbiota characterized by higher Golubeviales levels in M. citriensis treated group individuals, but Capnodiales levels were significantly decreased. The genera Geosmithia, Lecanicillium, and Golubevia were more abundant in M. citriensis treated fruit, while genera Diploospora and Issatchenkia were more abundant in the Control group. Meira and Meyerozyma levels rose in M. citriensis-treated fruits during storage, though M. citriensis itself did not dominate. Furthermore, functional analysis of the fungal community revealed a significant presence of pathogens on the citrus fruit surface. These pathogens did not induce disease in the citrus fruit, suggesting that the surface microorganisms may regulate pathogen abundance below the pathogenic threshold through species interactions, such as competition or mutualism. Our result suggested that M. citriensis enhances biocontrol by modulating the structure and abundance of the fungal community, which may represent one of its mechanisms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7f924ee13daf4b2ba3190864d3e6f7ac |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1049-9644 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Biological Control |
| spelling | doaj-art-7f924ee13daf4b2ba3190864d3e6f7ac2025-08-20T03:49:46ZengElsevierBiological Control1049-96442025-08-0120710581110.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105811The response of fungal community on citrus fruit surface to the application of Metschnikowia citriensisHongyan Zhang0Shupei Wang1Lanhua Yi2Jian Ming3Kaifang Zeng4College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Food Science and Biological Engineering, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300392, ChinaCollege of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, ChinaCollege of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; National Citrus Engineering Research Center, Chongqing 400712, China; Corresponding author at: College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.Metschnikowia citriensis is an antagonistic yeast that was isolated from citrus systems, effectively controls postharvest green mold, blue mold, and sour rot in citrus fruits. This study explored its biocontrol mechanisms by treating citrus fruits with 1 × 108 cells mL−1 M. citriensis and analyzing fungal community dynamics via amplicon sequencing. The treatment significant reduced weight loss, disease incidence, and disease index of citrus fruits. Fungal diversity on order- and genus-level on fruit surfaces initially declined but recovered after 28 days, with M. citriensis-treated fruits showing higher species richness than controls. M. citriensis altered fungal community structure, specifically, there was a clear alteration of the microbiota characterized by higher Golubeviales levels in M. citriensis treated group individuals, but Capnodiales levels were significantly decreased. The genera Geosmithia, Lecanicillium, and Golubevia were more abundant in M. citriensis treated fruit, while genera Diploospora and Issatchenkia were more abundant in the Control group. Meira and Meyerozyma levels rose in M. citriensis-treated fruits during storage, though M. citriensis itself did not dominate. Furthermore, functional analysis of the fungal community revealed a significant presence of pathogens on the citrus fruit surface. These pathogens did not induce disease in the citrus fruit, suggesting that the surface microorganisms may regulate pathogen abundance below the pathogenic threshold through species interactions, such as competition or mutualism. Our result suggested that M. citriensis enhances biocontrol by modulating the structure and abundance of the fungal community, which may represent one of its mechanisms.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964425001215Metschnikowia citriensisPostharvest decayFungal communityCitrus fruit |
| spellingShingle | Hongyan Zhang Shupei Wang Lanhua Yi Jian Ming Kaifang Zeng The response of fungal community on citrus fruit surface to the application of Metschnikowia citriensis Biological Control Metschnikowia citriensis Postharvest decay Fungal community Citrus fruit |
| title | The response of fungal community on citrus fruit surface to the application of Metschnikowia citriensis |
| title_full | The response of fungal community on citrus fruit surface to the application of Metschnikowia citriensis |
| title_fullStr | The response of fungal community on citrus fruit surface to the application of Metschnikowia citriensis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The response of fungal community on citrus fruit surface to the application of Metschnikowia citriensis |
| title_short | The response of fungal community on citrus fruit surface to the application of Metschnikowia citriensis |
| title_sort | response of fungal community on citrus fruit surface to the application of metschnikowia citriensis |
| topic | Metschnikowia citriensis Postharvest decay Fungal community Citrus fruit |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964425001215 |
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