FOOD SCIENCE ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (3): 7-13.doi: 10.7506/spkx1002-6630-20200131-297

• Basic Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of Tea Tree Oil on Mitochondrial Function of Penicillium expansum

CHEN Xueyu, ZOU Xiurong, WEI Yingying, XU Feng, WANG Hongfei, SHAO Xingfeng   

  1. (1. College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China; 2. Yingdong College of Food Science and Engineering, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China)
  • Published:2021-02-25

Abstract: In order to study the antifungal mechanism of tea tree oil (TTO) on Penicillium expansum in postharvest fruits and vegetables, the fungal spores, mycelia and mitochondria treated with TTO were tested for the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changes in six enzyme activities associated with mitochondrial function. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were also used to observe the morphology and ultrastructure of mitochondria. The results showed that TTO treatment caused severe wrinkling and shriveling of mitochondria along with the formation of vesicles within mitochondria and a loss of mitochondrial matrix, thereby seriously damaging the mitochondrial structure. Meanwhile, TTO treatment induced the accumulation of a large amount of ROS in P. expansum spores, thus resulting in a decrease in intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and the activities of citrate synthetase (CS), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH), malic dehydrogenase (MDH), and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in the mycelial cells and blocking the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Therefore, TTO treatment can damage mitochondrial structure and function in P. expansum, cause high accumulation of ROS, and consequently lead to the disruption of the TCA cycle and abnormal energy metabolism. Clearly, causing serious damage to mitochondrial function is the primary mechanism by which TTO inhibits P. expansum.

Key words: tea tree oil (TTO); Penicillium expansum; reactive oxygen species (ROS); mitochondria

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