The widespread use of synthetic fungicides has gradually increased drug resistance and has negatively impacted human health and caused environmental contamination. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of protocatechuic acid methyl ester (PCAME), a plant-derived biologically active compound, against decay mold disease of postharvest strawberry fruit caused by . PCAME inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination of and decreased the susceptibility of strawberries to invasion, as revealed by the lesion area. PCAME effectively altered the transcriptional profile of and enhanced the transcription of genes related to oxidative stress and cell membrane lipid peroxidation, ultimately causing membrane disturbance and cell death. These results were verified by increased extracellular conductivity, leakage of cytoplasmic constituents including sugars and nucleotides, and propidium iodide staining. Furthermore, PCAME treatment activated the expression of genes involved in antioxidant metabolism and defense-related proteins in strawberries infected with . These data suggest that PCAME inhibits postharvest gray mold disease in strawberries through direct antifungal activity and the enhancement of host resistance responses. PCAME can be considered as natural agent that alleviates postharvest gray mold decay in strawberries.

中文翻译：

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原儿茶酸甲酯对采后草莓果实灰霉病的抑菌机制

合成杀菌剂的广泛使用，耐药性逐渐增强，给人类健康带来负面影响，并造成环境污染。本研究旨在探讨植物来源的生物活性化合物原儿茶酸甲酯（PCAME）对采后草莓果实腐烂霉菌病的作用和作用机制。从病斑区域可以看出，PCAME 抑制了草莓的菌丝生长和孢子萌发，并降低了草莓对入侵的敏感性。PCAME 有效地改变了与氧化应激和细胞膜脂质过氧化相关的基因的转录谱并增强了其转录，最终导致膜紊乱和细胞死亡。这些结果通过细胞外电导率增加、包括糖和核苷酸在内的细胞质成分渗漏以及碘化丙啶染色得到验证。此外，PCAME 处理激活了感染 草莓的抗氧化代谢和防御相关蛋白相关基因的表达。这些数据表明，PCAME 通过直接抗真菌活性和增强宿主抗性反应来抑制草莓采后灰霉病。PCAME 可以被认为是减轻草莓采后灰霉腐烂的天然剂。