Effect of quercetin and umbelliferone on the transcript level of Penicillium expansum genes involved in patulin biosynthesis

• Published in: European journal of plant pathology Vol. 125; no. 2; pp. 223 - 233
• Main Authors: Sanzani, Simona M, Schena, Leonardo, Nigro, Franco, De Girolamo, Annalisa, Ippolito, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.10.2009; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accumulation; Agriculture; ATP-binding protein; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biosynthesis; Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal plant pathogens; Gene expression; Life Sciences; Mode of action; Penicillium expansum; Phenols; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant diseases; Plant Pathology; Plant Sciences; Umbelliferone; Blue mould; Real-time PCR; Gene expression; Patulin; Quercetin; Plant pathology; Microbiology; Plant pathogen; Biosynthesis; Real time; Fungi; Polymerase chain reaction; Penicillium expansum; Plant; Messenger RNA; Gene; Fungi Imperfecti
• ISSN: 0929-1873; 1573-8469
• DOI: 10.1007/s10658-009-9475-6

Penicillium expansum is commonly associated with patulin accumulation in pome fruits. In in vitro studies, two phenolic compounds (quercetin and umbelliferone) proved to be effective in reducing patulin accumulation, particularly when applied in combination, without consistently affecting mycelial growth. To investigate the mode of action of quercetin and umbelliferone, the expression of five genes likely involved in patulin biosynthesis was evaluated using real-time PCR in the presence and absence of the tested phenolic compounds. The relative expression of genes coding isoepoxydon dehydrogenase (IDH), 6-methylsalicylic acid synthase (msas) and an ATP-binding cassette transporter (peab1) proved to be down-regulated when quercetin and umbelliferone were added in combination. Furthermore, the relative expression of two putative cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (p450-1 and p450-2) was reduced by all treatments, although the combination of the two substances was the most effective. These results provide evidence that quercetin and umbelliferone reduce patulin accumulation by acting on the transcription level of the tested genes.