Brown Rot Pathogenesis in Stone Fruits

Brown rot disease, predominantly caused by Monilinia species, poses a major threat to global stone fruit production, affecting peaches, nectarines, cherries and plums both pre- and post-harvest. Infection begins when airborne or rain-splash disseminated conidia land on the fruit surface, germinate and penetrate the cuticle via enzymatic degradation. A suite of cell wall-degrading enzymes, including pectin methylesterases, polygalacturonases, cellulases and cutinases, orchestrates breakdown of host barriers, allowing hyphal ingress and tissue colonisation. Necrosis-inducing proteins accelerate host cell death, while secondary metabolites such as melanin confer environmental resilience to the fungus. Disease progression is influenced by fruit physiology—particularly cuticle thickness and composition—and by external factors such as light quality, temperature and humidity. The intricate interplay between fungal virulence factors and host defences, including physical barriers and induced hypersensitive responses, determines lesion development and eventual maceration. Understanding these processes is critical for breeding resistant cultivars, optimising orchard and post-harvest management and reducing reliance on chemical fungicides.

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Brown Rot Pathogenesis in Stone Fruits publication trend

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Technical terms

Brown rot: A fungal disease of stone fruits characterised by fruit browning, softening and decay due to Monilinia infection.

Pathogenesis: The biological mechanisms by which a pathogen infects and causes disease in its host.

CAZymes (Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes): A class of enzymes that degrade complex carbohydrates in the plant cell wall, facilitating pathogen entry.

Cuticle: The waxy, protective outer layer of fruit epidermis that acts as the first barrier to pathogen invasion.

Genome-wide association study (GWAS): A method that scans the genome for genetic variants associated with a particular trait, such as disease resistance.

Melanin: A dark pigment produced by fungi that protects against environmental stresses and contributes to virulence.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules containing oxygen that can damage cellular components and are involved in stress responses.

References

1. Genome-wide association analysis of Monilinia fructicola lesion in a collection of Spanish peach landraces. Frontiers in Plant Science (2023).
2. Deciphering the Effect of Light Wavelengths in Monilinia spp. DHN-Melanin Production and Their Interplay with ROS Metabolism in M. fructicola. Journal of Fungi (2023).