Transcriptomic Analysis of Resveratrol and Polydatin Accumulation Associated with Crude Elicitors from the Endophytic Fungus Plectosphaerella sp. in Rumex gmelinii Turcz

Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation Reshapes Chemotype, Nutritional Status, and Metabolic Signatures to Enhance Bioactivity in Origanum compactum Benth.

Overall, mycorrhizal fungal inoculation reshaped the chemical composition and the major bioactive compounds of Oregano, thereby enhancing its nutritional and antimicrobial potential.

Agroecological functions of Trichoderma harzianum, an endophytic fungus of the avocado root: its role in plant growth, defense and multitrophic interactions.

The results support the use of T. harzianum as an effective bioinoculant to enhance plant growth and suppress pests, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic agrochemicals.

Effects of methyl jasmonate on specialized metabolite accumulation and phenylpropanoid pathway gene expression in Codonopsis pilosula adventitious roots

Lichen-derived elicitors (Evernia prunastri extract and usnic acid) enhance phenolic compound accumulation in agitated shoot cultures of Lychnis flos-cuculi

Lychnis flos-cuculi L. is a plant species valued for its rich content of phenolic compounds and traditional therapeutic applications; however, the decline of natural populations necessitates the development of alternative biomass sources. The present study investigated the effect of biotic elicitation with Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. thallus extract and usnic acid on phenolic compound accumulation in in vitro shoot cultures of L. flos-cuculi. Shoots were cultivated in liquid Murashige and Skoog medium under shake-flask conditions and treated with E. prunastri thallus extract (1 mg/mL–3 mg/mL) or (+)-usnic acid previously isolated from E. prunastri (6.25–25 µM) for 24, 72, 144, and 192 h. The concentrations of selected phenolic acids and flavonoids were determined by HPLC-DAD. The elicitation treatments did not adversely affect shoot morphology or physiological status; however, biomass growth generally decreased with increasing elicitor concentration and exposure time. Four phenolic acids (caffeic, ferulic, p-coumaric, and protocatechuic acids) and three flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, and vitexin) were identified in the shoot biomass. The highest phenolic acid accumulation following elicitation with E. prunastri thallus extract was confirmed after 192 h at 3 mg/mL, particularly for p-coumaric acid (14.21 mg/100 g DW). Usnic acid proved to be an effective elicitor of flavonoid biosynthesis, resulting in the highest apigenin content (17.81 mg/100 g DW) after 192 h treatment with 25 µM usnic acid. The results demonstrate that biotic elicitation with lichen-derived compounds effectively enhances the production of valuable phenolic metabolites in L. flos-cuculi in vitro cultures. Therefore, agitated shoot cultures represent a promising sustainable source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. Biotic elicitation with Evernia prunastri extract and usnic acid enhanced the accumulation of phenolic acids and flavonoids in Lychnis flos-cuculi in vitro shoot cultures.

TrcrtB regulates carotenoid biosynthesis, stress tolerance, conidiation and pathogenicity in the postharvest pink rot fungus, Trichothecium roseum.

The results suggest that TrcrtB and phytoene are critical for development, stress tolerance and pathogenicity of T. roseum and highlight the roles of TrcrtB and phytoene in the pathogenic fungus T. roseum.

Phytotoxicity mechanism of rubratoxin B from the soil-derived fungus, Talaromyces purpureogenus XJ14C02.

BACKGROUND Chemical herbicides are essential for crop productivity, but increasing resistance demands new modes of action. Microbial metabolites offer a promising source of novel phytotoxins. Here, we elucidate the herbicidal mechanism of rubratoxin B (RB), a mycotoxin produced by Talaromyces purpureogenus XJ14C02 strain isolated from soil in Xinjiang, China. RESULTS RB exhibited potent root growth inhibition against Echinochloa crus-galli, Conyza canadensis, and Arabidopsis thaliana (IC₅₀ = 14.70, 9.45, and 0.21 μg mL-1, respectively). Integrated multi-omics profiling identified 2373 differentially expressed genes, 518 differentially expressed proteins, and 151 differential metabolites, with the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway consistently enriched across all three omics layers. RB activated upstream enzymes (PAL, 4CL, HCT) and led to accumulation of caffeoyl shikimic acid, while concurrently suppressing downstream flavonoid-related genes (CHS, CHI, F3H, DFR, ANS) and reducing coniferin levels. Arabidopsis mutants deficient in PAL or 4CL displayed markedly increased RB sensitivity, confirming the functional relevance of these nodes. Additionally, RB disrupted auxin distribution in root tips and caused severe ultrastructural damage. CONCLUSION RB disrupts the plant growth-defense balance through an 'upstream phenylpropanoid activation-downstream flavonoid inhibition' mechanism. Multi-omics integration coupled with mutant validation identifies PAL, 4CL, and F3H as critical functional mediators of RB phytotoxicity. These findings advance the mechanistic understanding of mycotoxin-driven herbicidal action and position RB as a promising lead scaffold for bioherbicide development. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.