Venturicidin A Is a Potential Fungicide for Controlling Head Blight by Affecting Deoxynivalenol Biosynthesis, Toxisome Formation, and Mitochondrial Structure.

, which causes head blight (FHB) in cereals, is one of the most devastating fungal diseases by causing great yield losses and mycotoxin contamination. A major bioactive ingredient, venturicidin A (VentA), was isolated from S10 mycelial extract with an activity-guided approach. No report is available on antifungal activity of VentA against and effects on deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis. Here, VentA showed a high antagonistic activity toward with an EC value of 3.69 μg/mL. As observed by scanning electron microscopy, after exposure to VentA, conidia and mycelia appeared abnormal. Different dyes staining revealed that VentA increased cell membrane permeability. In growth chamber and field trials, VentA effectively reduced disease severity of FHB. Moreover, VentA inhibited DON biosynthesis by reducing pyruvic acid, acetyl-CoA production, and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and then inhibiting trichothecene () genes expression and toxisome formation. These results suggest that VentA is a potential fungicide for controlling FHB.