Find in Library

This study aims to evaluate the antifungal effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by a marine biocontrol yeast, <i>Scheffersomyces spartinae</i> W9. The results showed that the VOCs from the yeast inhibited the growth of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> mycelium and spore germination by 77.8% and 58.3%, respectively. Additionally, it reduced the disease incidence and lesion diameter of gray mold on the strawberry fruit surface by 20.7% and 67.4%, respectively. Electronic micrographs showed that VOCs caused damage to the morphology and ultrastructure of the hyphae. Based on headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS), <i>S. spartinae</i> W9 emitted 18 main VOCs, and the pure substance of VOCs, such as 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2-phenylethanol, and isoamyl acetate, showed antifungal effects against <i>B. cinerea</i> mycelium growth. Among them, 2-phenylethanol exhibited the strongest antifungal activity. It has been concluded that VOCs are the key antifungal mechanism of <i>S. spartinae</i> W9, and a promising strategy for controlling gray mold on strawberry fruit.