Methyl ferulate (MF) exhibited outstanding inhibitory activity against Alternaria alternata, while the specific target and molecular mechanism have not been explored based on omics technology. This study aims to reveal the regulatory molecular mechanism of A. alternata in response to MF by integrating transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome approaches. The results showed that after 200 mg L^–1 MF treatment of A. alternata, a total of 909 up-regulated genes, 964 down-regulated genes, 302 up-regulated proteins, and 83 down-regulated proteins were detected. According to bioinformatics analysis, the genes and proteins associated with cell membrane lipid metabolism (including sphingolipid metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, and ether lipid metabolism) were significantly promoted, while genes involved in DNA replication and repair of genetic information processing (including base excision repair and homologous recombination) were notably inhibited. Furthermore, two detoxification-related pathways, ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters and glutathione metabolism, were also induced. In summary, our results confirmed that the mycelial growth of A. alternata was remarkably suppressed by MF via destroying the cell membrane structure, interfering with membrane lipid metabolism, promoting sphingolipids synthesis, disturbing genetic information processing, and impeding DNA replication and repair. This study proposed the antifungal mechanism of MF against A. alternata at the molecular level and provided a theoretical reference for MF as a new natural antifungal agent applying to the control of postharvest pathogene in fruit and vegetables.

阿魏酸甲酯（MF）对链格孢菌表现出优异的抑制活性，但其具体靶点和分子机制尚未基于组学技术进行探索。本研究旨在通过整合转录组、蛋白质组和代谢组方法来揭示A. alternata响应MF的调控分子机制。结果显示，200 mg·L ^-1 MF处理链格孢后，共检测到上调基因909个，下调基因964个，上调蛋白302个，下调蛋白83个。根据生物信息学分析，与细胞膜脂质代谢（包括鞘脂代谢、类固醇生物合成和醚脂代谢）相关的基因和蛋白质显着促进，而参与DNA复制和遗传信息处理修复（包括碱基切除修复和同源重组）受到显着抑制。此外，还诱导了两条与解毒相关的途径，即ATP结合盒（ABC）转运蛋白和谷胱甘肽代谢。总之，我们的结果证实，MF 通过破坏细胞膜结构、干扰膜脂代谢、促进鞘脂合成、干扰遗传信息处理、阻碍 DNA 复制和修复，显着抑制 A. alternata 菌丝生长。该研究从分子水平提出了MF对链格孢菌的抗真菌作用机制，为MF作为新型天然抗真菌剂应用于果蔬采后病原菌的控制提供了理论参考。