Over 200 crops worldwide are susceptible to gray mold infection, caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea, including strawberry fruit, both in the field and after harvest. The disease is normally controlled by chemical fungicides. However, increasing public and environmental concern over pesticide applications has prompted the exploration of ecofriendly approaches to combatting pathogens. Morel mushrooms are edible mushrooms with abroad range of bioactive metabolites. We studied the inhibitory effect of Morchella conicaPers. mycelial water extract (MWE) on B. cinerea infection of strawberry fruit for the first time. In-vivo assay showed reduction of gray mold infection, measured by disease index on MWE-treated fruit compared to controls. Enhancement of a range of biochemical and molecular characteristics related to the fruit's defense system was detected by RNA-Seq analysis, quantitative PCR and quantification of total phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity by DPPH, and enzymatic activities in the fruit. In-vitro tests showed no inhibition of B. cinerea compared to a control fungicide fludioxonil. The findings demonstrate the beneficial effect of Morchella conica metabolites in enhancing fruit resistance to pathogenic fungal attack and improving quality of postharvest strawberry fruit.

在世界范围内，无论是在田间还是收获后，全世界有200多种农作物易受灰霉病的感染，这种病是由植物病原性真菌灰葡萄孢（包括草莓果实）引起的。该疾病通常由化学杀菌剂控制。但是，公众和环境对杀虫剂应用的日益关注促使人们探索了一种生态友好的方法来对抗病原体。羊肚菌蘑菇是具有国外生物活性代谢产物的食用蘑菇。我们研究了羊肚菌的抑制作用。灰质芽孢杆菌的菌丝体水提取物（MWE）草莓果实首次感染。体内试验显示，与对照组相比，用MWE处理的水果的疾病指数来衡量灰霉菌感染的减少。通过RNA-Seq分析，定量PCR和定量总酚，类黄酮，DPPH的抗氧化能力以及水果中的酶活性，检测到与水果防御系统相关的一系列生化和分子特性的增强。体外试验表明，与对照杀真菌剂氟地西尼相比，灰质芽孢杆菌没有抑制作用。这些发现证明了羊肚菌代谢产物在增强果实对病原性真菌侵袭的抵抗力以及改善采后草莓果实品质方面的有益作用。