Control Efficiency and Mechanism of Exogenous Melatonin on Postharvest Apple Ring Rot

doi:10.15933/j.cnki.1004-3268.2026.01.010

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to develop a safe and effective method for controlling postharvest apple ring rot disease caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea.Fuji apple fruits were used as experimental materials in this study.The inhibitory effects of exogenous melatonin on the mycelial growth of the pathogen，as well as its efficacy in controlling postharvest apple ring rot，were evaluated using petri dish antibacterial assays and wound inoculation methods，respectively.Additionally，the activity of cell wall degrading enzymes and the content of cell wall components in apple fruits were analyzed.The results showed that exogenous melatonin effectively inhibited in vitro growth of B.dothidea and significantly enhanced the resistance of postharvest apples to ring rot disease.The most pronounced effects were observed at a concentration of 0.20 mmol/L.At nine days after inoculation，the inhibition rate of mycelial growth of apple ring rot pathogen in vitro culture and the control effect on apple ring rot in postharvest apples treated with 0.20 mmol/L melatonin were 82.19% and 78.53%，respectively.Furthermore，B.dothidea infection significantly increased the activity of cell wall‐degrading enzymes in postharvest apples，thereby promoting the degradation of the fruit’s cell wall.At seven days post‐inoculation，apples treated with 0 mmol/L melatonin exhibited substantial increases in enzyme activities：Carboxymethyl cellulase（Cx），β‐glucosidase（β‐Glu），filter paperase（FPA），polygalacturonase（PG），polygalacturonase transeliminase（PGTE），and pectin methylgalacturonase（PMG） increased by 333.34%，496.41%，196.35%，666.77%，511.21%，81.87%，respectively，compared to the non‐inoculated control（CK）.Consequently，there were significant reductions in cellulose，protopectin，and lignin contents by 83.41%，82.39%，and 22.45%，respectively.The treatment with 0.20 mmol/L melatonin significantly reduced the activity of cell wall‐degrading enzymes and could effectively alleviate the degradation of the cell wall in apple fruit.At seven days post‐inoculation，the activities of Cx，β‐Glu，FPA，PG，PGTE，and PMG in the 0.20 mmol/L melatonin treatment were significantly reduced by 25.30%，33.40%，25.51%，37.00%，41.04%，and 17.09%，respectively，compared to the 0 mmol/L treatment.This led to significant increases in cellulose，pectin，and lignin by 353.92%，336.52% and 203.95%，respectively，making them closer to the levels of healthy fruits. In conclusion，exogenous melatonin can effectively inhibit the growth of apple ring rot pathogen and enhance the resistance of postharvest apple fruits to ring rot，with the most effective concentration being 0.20 mmol/L.

Key words: Apple ring rot, Melatonin, Cell wall, Biological control

摘要： 为开发采后苹果轮纹病的安全、高效防控方法，以富士苹果果实为材料，分别采用培养皿抑菌法和刺伤接种法，研究外源褪黑素对苹果轮纹病菌菌丝生长的抑制作用及对采后苹果轮纹病的防控效果，并对苹果果实的细胞壁降解酶活性及细胞壁组分含量进行测定。结果表明，外源褪黑素可有效抑制苹果轮纹病菌的离体生长，显著提升采后苹果果实对轮纹病的抗性，以0.20 mmol/L处理效果最佳。离体培养或采后苹果接种9 d时，0.20 mmol/L褪黑素处理对苹果轮纹病菌菌丝生长的抑制率和对果实轮纹病的防治效果分别为82.19%和78.53%。轮纹病菌可显著提升采后苹果果实的细胞壁降解酶活性，促进果实细胞壁降解。接种7 d时，0 mmol/L褪黑素处理的苹果果实羧甲基纤维素酶（Cx）、β-葡萄糖苷酶（β-Glu）、滤纸酶（FPA）、多聚半乳糖醛酸酶（PG）、多聚半乳糖醛酸反式消除酶（PGTE）及果胶甲基半乳糖醛酸酶（PMG）活性分别较未接种（CK）显著提升333.34%、496.41%、196.35%、666.77%、511.21%、81.87%，而纤维素、原果胶及木质素含量则分别显著降低83.41%、82.39% 和22.45%。0.20 mmol/L褪黑素处理对细胞壁降解酶活性的提升具有显著的抑制作用，可有效缓解苹果果实细胞壁的降解。接种7 d时，0.20 mmol/L褪黑素处理的Cx、β-Glu、FPA、PG、PGTE及PMG活性分别较0 mmol/L处理显著降低25.30%、33.40%、25.51%、37.00%、41.04%和17.09%，而纤维素、原果胶及木质素含量则分别显著提升353.92%、336.52%和203.95%，使其更接近健康果实的水平。综上，外源褪黑素可有效抑制苹果轮纹病菌生长，提升采后苹果果实对轮纹病的抗性，以0.20 mmol/L处理效果最佳。

关键词: 苹果轮纹病, 褪黑素, 细胞壁, 生物防治

CLC Number:

S436.611.1

LIU Fangjie, HAN Xujuan, WANG Yuxuan. Control Efficiency and Mechanism of Exogenous Melatonin on Postharvest Apple Ring Rot[J]. Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences, 2026, 55(1): 110-117.

刘芳洁, 韩旭娟, 王宇轩. 外源褪黑素对采后苹果轮纹病的防效及作用机制[J]. 河南农业科学, 2026, 55(1): 110-117.

Figures/Tables 4

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