Antifungal activity of 2-decanone against Monilinia fructicola and its application in combination with boscalid in mitigating brown rot disease in peach fruit

Abstract

Peach fruit is highly susceptible to Monilinia fructicola (M. fructicola), a pathogen that causes significant postharvest losses. Enhancing the efficacy and reducing the dosage of chemical fungicides are critical for controlling brown rot caused by M. fructicola. Natural volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been proposed as a selective method for managing postharvest pathogen infection. Among these, 2-decanone, a natural volatile produced by fungi and insects, has demonstrated potential in inhibiting pathogen growth. In this study, 60 μL/L 2-decanone effectively inhibited the growth of M. fructicola mycelia. It also reduced spore germination and appressorium formation by downregulating the expression of MfBmp1 and MfPls1, respectively. In addition, 2-decanone induced spore apoptosis by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and exacerbating mitochondrial damage. When applied to peach fruit, 2-decanone fumigation significantly reduced disease incidence and lesion diameter compared to the control group, without adversely affecting fruit quality during storage. Furthermore, we observed that 2-decanone exhibited synergistic effects when combined with boscalid, effectively inhibiting the growth of M. fructicola. Applying boscalid 15 days before harvest and fumigating with 2-decanone postharvest provided similar brown rot suppression as boscalid alone but used only one-tenth the amount of fungicide. Overall, 2-decanone fumigation presents an effective strategy for controlling postharvest brown rot disease in peaches, and its combined use with boscalid introduces a promising approach for enhancing postharvest peach fruit preservation.