Biocontrol efficacy of Bacillus albus SSR3 for controlling postharvest fungal pathogens and mycotoxin contamination

Sweetpotato black rot, caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata, is a major postharvest disease that leads to substantial storage losses worldwide. In this study, a salt-tolerant rhizobacterial strain, Bacillus albus SSR3, was isolated from the rhizosphere of sweetpotato grown in saline-alkali soil, with broad-spectrum antagonistic activity against postharvest fungal pathogens. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed diverse bioactive metabolites associated with its antifungal activity. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses showed that SSR3 bioactive metabolites extensively reprogrammed fungal metabolism, particularly pathways involved in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, antioxidant defense, and energy production. These alterations were accompanied by disruption of cell wall and membrane integrity, excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction, ultimately inhibiting fungal growth. Here, we also found that SSR3 bioactive metabolites effectively inhibited aflatoxin B1 production by Aspergillus flavus and deoxynivalenol accumulation in Fusarium graminearum. In vivo assays further demonstrated that SSR3 bioactive metabolites significantly reduced sweetpotato black rot severity and effectively limited fungal colonization and mycotoxin contamination in stored agricultural commodities. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that B. albus SSR3 suppresses postharvest fungal pathogens through coordinated metabolic reprogramming, oxidative stress induction, and cellular integrity disruption, highlighting its potential as a sustainable biocontrol agent for postharvest disease management.