Alginate oligosaccharide induces resistance against Penicillium expansum in pears by priming defense responses.

The research intended to explore the control ability of alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) on Penicillium expansum infection in pear fruit by priming response and its mechanism. The results showed that 100 mg L AOS treatment could significantly reduce the incidence of postharvest blue mold and the lesion diameter in pear fruits and maintain their quality. The defense responses induced by AOS treatment alone were relatively mild in pear fruits. Still, AOS-treated pear fruits inoculated with P. expansum showed more intense disease resistance responses. These defense responses included enhanced activities of chitinase (CHI), β-1, 3-glucanase (GLU), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity (PAL), along with the accumulation of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and lignin. Additionally, the expression levels of defense-related genes, such as PbGLU, PbCHI, PbPAL, PbPOD and PbPPO, were significantly upregulated. However, AOS did not show a potential inhibitory effect on the in vitro growth of P. expansum. Our results indicated that AOS treatment in the postharvest pear fruit enhances disease resistance by priming its defense responses.