Effects of Rhizosphere Microorganisms and Metabolites Apigenin on Resistance to Phytophthora Capsici (PRJCA046279)
Through integrated microbiome, transcriptome, and metabolome analyses, we compared resistant (CA53) and susceptible (CA476) pepper cultivars challenged with Phytophthora capsici. Resistant plants exhibited stable transcriptional and metabolic states, whereas susceptible plants showed marked activation of the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, particularly apigenin accumulation. Exogenous application of apigenin significantly enhanced pepper resistance. Mechanistic assays revealed that apigenin disrupted sporangial integrity, thereby suppressing zoospore release. In parallel, apigenin acted as a hub metabolite that promoted the selective enrichment of beneficial rhizosphere microbes associated with disease suppression.