Investigation of the expression pattern of defense-related genes in strawberry fruits in interaction with Bacillus spp. and Colletotrichum nymphaeae

Abstract This research investigated the antifungal properties of the endophytic bacterium Bacillus spp. (ABN14), isolated from Fragaria × ananassa peduncle, in interaction with Colletotrichum nymphaeae on defense gene expression, defense-related enzymes, and the alteration of the metabolite profile of strawberry fruits. Statistical methods represented considerable differences in the expression of defense genes (PR5, PR10, and WRKY) at all time points (zero, 24, 72, and 96 hours) after the inoculation of the fungal pathogen in all treatments. Furthermore, strawberry fruits infected by the fungal pathogen, following exposure to the biological control agent, exhibited varying the amount of catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidases, superoxide dismutase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzymes compared to those from other treatments at different times post-inoculation. Additionally, different treatments exerted various effects on the metabolite profile of strawberry fruits, leading to the production of diverse metabolites.