Flavonoids from Sedum aizoon L. inhibit Botrytis cinerea by negatively affecting cell membrane lipid metabolism

Botrytis cinerea is a highly destructive and widespread phytopathogen in fruits. The widespread use of chemical antifungal agents on fruits has aided in disease control while their long-term use has resulted in the emergence of resistant fungal strains. Flavonoids have a specific antifungal effect. The inhibitory effect and underlying mechanism of flavonoids from Sedum aizoon L. (FSAL) on B. cinerea were determined in this study. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration of FSAL against B. cinerea was 1.500 mg/mL. FSAL treatment caused leakage of macromolecules such as nucleic acids, led to accumulation of malondialdehyde and relative oxygen species, and disrupted the ultrastructure of B. cinerea. The transcriptome results indicated that compared with the control group, there were 782 and 1330 genes identified as being substantially upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in the FSAL-treated group. The identified genes and metabolites were mostly involved in redox processes and glycerolipid and amino acid metabolism pathways. FSAL offer a promising choice for food prevention and safety. KEY POINTS: • FSAL negatively affects the glycerolipid metabolism of B. cinerea • FSAL minimum inhibitory concentration against B. cinerea was 1.500 mg/mL • FSAL could be utilized as a new prevention strategy for gray mold in fruits.