Open AccessPhenylethanol promotes adhesion and biofilm formation of the antagonistic yeast K loeckera apiculata for the control of blue mold on citrus
Author(s) -
Pu Liu,
Jingfan Fang,
Kai Chen,
Chaoan Long,
Yunjiang Cheng
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/1567-1364.12139
Subject(s) - biology , biofilm , yeast , blue mold , penicillium digitatum , postharvest , potato dextrose agar , penicillium italicum , biological pest control , microbiology and biotechnology , quorum sensing , botany , agar , biochemistry , genetics , bacteria , penicillium expansum
The yeast K loeckera apiculata strain 34‐9 is an antagonist with biological control activity against postharvest diseases of citrus fruit. In a previous study it was demonstrated that K . apiculata produced the aromatic alcohol phenylethanol. In the present study, we found that K . apiculata was able to form biofilm on citrus fruit and embed in an extracellular matrix, which created a mechanical barrier interposed between the wound surface and pathogen. As a quorum‐sensing molecule, phenylethanol can promote the formation of filaments by K . apiculata in potato dextrose agar medium, whereas on the citrus fruit, the antagonist remains as yeast after being treated with the same concentration of phenylethanol. It only induced K . apiculata to adhere and form biofilm. Following genome‐wide computational and experimental identification of the possible genes associated with K . apiculata adhesion, we identified nine genes possibly involved in triggering yeast adhesion. Six of these genes were significantly induced after phenylethanol stress treatment. This study provides a new model system of the biology of the antagonist–pathogen interactions that occur in the antagonistic yeast K . apiculata for the control of blue mold on citrus caused by P enicillium italicum .