Caffeic acid improves biocontrol effect of Pantoea jilinensis D25 against tomato gray mold

Abstract

BACKGROUNDGray mold in tomato caused by Botrytis cinerea is a destructive disease, which can be treated using biocontrol agents. Pretreatment of biocontrol strains with oxidative‐stress‐ameliorating compounds can enhance their tolerance to oxidative microenvironment in infected fruit wounds. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of caffeic acid (CA) on the biocontrol efficacy of Pantoea jilinensis D25 in gray mold in cherry tomato.RESULTSD25 strain pretreated with CA exhibited enhanced oxidative stress response in cherry tomato wounds. CA‐treated D25 cells recovered from cherry tomato wounds had lower ROS level and cellular oxidative damage than D25 cells not treated with CA. The antioxidation‐related genes (CAT and GPX) were upregulated and colonization ability of D25 strain was improved in cherry tomato wounds after CA application. Furthermore, the biocontrol effects of CA‐treated D25 strain were improved. CA pretreatment to D25 strain could significantly improve the expression of defense‐related genes (SlMYC‐2, SlLoxD, SlEIN2, and SlEIN3) and activity of defense‐related enzymes in cherry tomato wounds.CONCLUSIONApplication of CA to D25 strain could improve its ability to combat antioxidant stress and biocontrol efficacy against postharvest tomato gray mold. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.