Antifungal Activity and Action Mechanisms of 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol against Ustilaginoidea virens

Abstract

Ustilaginoidea virens is a destructive phytopathogenic fungus that causes false smut disease in rice. In this study, the natural product 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP) was found to be an environmentally friendly and effective agent for the first time, which exhibited strong antifungal activity against U. virens, with an EC50 value of 0.087 mmol/L. The scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence staining, and biochemical assays indicated that 2,4-DTBP could destroy the cell wall, cell membrane, and cellular redox homeostasis of U. virens, ultimately resulting in fungal cell death. Through the transcriptomic analysis, a total of 353 genes were significantly upregulated and 367 genes were significantly downregulated, focusing on the spindle microtubule assembly, cell wall and membrane, redox homeostasis, mycotoxin biosynthesis, and intracellular metabolism. These results enhanced the understanding of the antifungal activity and action mechanisms of 2,4-DTBP against U. virens, supporting it to be a potential antifungal agent for the control of false smut disease.

A Novel Preservative Film with a Pleated Surface Structure and Dual Bioactivity Properties for Application in Strawberry Preservation due to Its Efficient Apoptosis of Pathogenic Fungal Cells

“…The fungal cell wall serves as a highly malleable dynamic skeleton with protective and supporting functions . Various fungicides have been reported to achieve antibacterial effects by destroying the cell wall of fungi . Whether thymol possesses the same antimicrobial mechanism was validated by CFW, a nonspecific fluorescent brightening dye that binds to β-linked glycosides, a basal component of the fungal cell wall, and displays blue fluorescence at an excitation wavelength of 355 nm .…”

“…63 Various fungicides have been reported to achieve antibacterial effects by destroying the cell wall of fungi. 64 Whether thymol possesses the same antimicrobial mechanism was validated by CFW, a nonspecific fluorescent brightening dye that binds to β-linked glycosides, a basal component of the fungal cell wall, 65 and displays blue fluorescence at an excitation wavelength of 355 nm. 66 The specific implementation scheme used the CFW kit (He Peng Biotechnology Co., Ltd.) and operated according to the instructions.…”