title: Biocontrol of post-harvest Alternaria alternata decay of cherry tomatoes with rhamnolipids and possible mechanisms of action.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rhamnolipids were reported to have evident antifungal activity. The efficacy of rhamnolipids against Alternaria alternata and their possible mechanisms involved were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The decay incidences of A. alternata of cherry tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) treated by rhamnolipids were significantly reduced. The in vitro assays showed that rhamnolipids inhibited fungal growth on solid medium and prevented spore germination and mycelium growth in liquid medium. In addition, the combination of rhamnolipids and essential oil had a synergistic effect leading to the decrease of fungicidal concentrations of laurel oil. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations of the pathogen revealed significant morphological and cell structural alterations in the hyphae. Compared to the control, the content of nucleic acid in supernatant of the suspension of A. alternata increased, while the content of DNA and protein of mycelium decreased, which was in agreement with electrolyte leakage experiments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rhamnolipids could be an alternative to chemicals for controlling post-harvest phytopathogenic fungi on fruits and vegetables.
authors: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Key laboratory for agro-food processing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China.
authors: Fujie
authors: F
authors: Yan
authors: Shixiang
authors: S
authors: Xu
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Guo
authors: Qianru
authors: Q
authors: Chen
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Meng
authors: Xiaodong
authors: X
authors: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000528:Alternaria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology*; D056229:Fungal Structures / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000382:microbiology*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D006017:Glycolipids; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C418382:rhamnolipid; C045167:laurel oil
keywords: Alternaria alternata; biological control; cherry tomatoes; mechanisms; rhamnolipids