The Global Secondary Metabolite Regulator <i>AcLaeA</i> Modulates <i>Aspergillus carbonarius</i> Virulence, Ochratoxin Biosynthesis, and the Mode of Action of Biopesticides and Essential Oils
<i>Aspergillus carbonarius</i> is considered one of the main fungi responsible for black and sour rot in grapes, as well as the production of the carcinogenic mycotoxin ochratoxin A. The global regulatory methyltransferase protein <i>LaeA</i> controls the production of variou...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/1/2 |
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| Summary: | <i>Aspergillus carbonarius</i> is considered one of the main fungi responsible for black and sour rot in grapes, as well as the production of the carcinogenic mycotoxin ochratoxin A. The global regulatory methyltransferase protein <i>LaeA</i> controls the production of various secondary metabolites in <i>Aspergillus</i> species, as well as influences sexual and asexual reproduction and morphology. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of the regulatory gene <i>AclaeA</i> in physiology, virulence, and ochratoxin A (OTA) production by deleting this gene from the genome of a wild-type <i>A. carbonarius</i> strain. The evaluation data on the morphological characteristics, virulence experiments in three different grape varieties, and OTA analysis of Δ<i>AclaeA</i> mutants showed that the growth and the OTA production by Δ<i>AclaeA</i> strains were significantly reduced. The mutant strains were also less virulent, producing 40–50% less conidia in three different cultivars of grape berries. Additionally, the gene <i>AclaeA</i> was considerably repressed after the application of three commercial biopesticides (Trianum-P<sup>®</sup>, Vacciplant<sup>®</sup>, and Serenade<sup>®</sup> Max) and the essential oils (EOs) cinnamon, geranium, and thyme, which were also shown to inhibit OTA biosynthesis in <i>A. carbonarius</i>. The study of the regulatory gene <i>AclaeA</i> can contribute to a broader understanding of the role of secondary metabolites during <i>A. carbonarius</i>—grape interactions, as well as the discovery of the mode of action of biological plant protection products and EOs against this mycotoxigenic fungus. |
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| ISSN: | 2072-6651 |