Honokiol inhibits Botryosphaeria dothidea, the causal pathogen of kiwifruit soft rot, by targeting membrane lipid biosynthesis.

Kiwifruit soft rot mainly caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea. This investigation assessed the inhibitory consequences and mechanisms of honokiol against B. dothidea. The findings indicate that honokiol hindered the mycelial growth, conidial germination, and pathogenicity of B. dothidea in a dose-dependent manner, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ultrastructural examinations unveiled that honokiol impaired the integrity of B. dothidea, leading to an elevation in cell membrane permeability, engendering a multitude of intracellular substance extravasations and hampering energy metabolism. Transcriptome analysis exhibited that honokiol-regulated genes related to membrane lipid biosynthesis, comprising ACC1, FAS2, Arp2, gk, Cesle, and Etnk1. These findings indicate that honokiol impedes B. dothidea by obstructing lipid biosynthesis within the cell membrane and compromising its integrity, halting the growth of the mycelia which could potentially cause cellular demise. Consequently, this investigation illustrates how honokiol functions as an eco-friendly approach to prevent the occurrence of soft rot in kiwifruits. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.