Effects of esterified lactoferrin and lactoferrin on control of postharvest blue mold of apple fruit and their possible mechanisms of action

J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Jun 27;60(25):6432-8. doi: 10.1021/jf300483v. Epub 2012 Jun 13.

Abstract

The effects of esterified lactoferrin (ELF) and lactoferrin (LF) on blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum in apple fruit stored at 25 °C were investigated. Both ELF and LF provided an effective control and strongly inhibited spore germination and germ tube elongation of P. expansum in vitro. Assessment by propidium iodide staining combined with fluorescent microscopy revealed that the plasma membrane of P. expansum spores was damaged more seriously by ELF than by LF treatment, and the leakage of protein and sugar was higher from ELF-treated mycelia. Interestingly, ELF treatment induced a significant increase in the activities of chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, and peroxidase in apple fruit, whereas both LF treatment and the control showed no obvious difference. These findings indicated that the effects of ELF on blue mold in apple fruit might be associated with the direct fungitoxic property against the pathogens and the elicitation of defense-related enzymes in fruit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chitinases / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Esterification
  • Fruit / microbiology
  • Fungicides, Industrial / pharmacology*
  • Lactoferrin / chemistry
  • Lactoferrin / pharmacology*
  • Malus / enzymology
  • Malus / microbiology*
  • Penicillium / drug effects
  • Penicillium / growth & development
  • Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Pest Control, Biological
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Plant Diseases / prevention & control
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Fungicides, Industrial
  • Plant Proteins
  • Peroxidase
  • Chitinases
  • Lactoferrin