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Blue mold, caused by Penicillium expansum, is an important postharvest disease of apple, and can result in significant economic losses. The present study investigated the interaction between P. expansum and wounded apple fruit tissues during the early stages of the infection. Spores of P. expansum became activated one hour post-inoculation (hpi), exhibited swelling at 3 hpi, and the germ tubes were found entering into apple tissues at 6 hpi. RNA-seq was performed on samples of P. expansum and apple fruit tissue collected at 1, 3, and 6 hpi. The main differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were identified in P. expansum were related to interaction, cell wall degradation enzymes, anti-oxidative stress, pH regulation, and effectors. Apple tissues responded to the presence of P. expansum by activating pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI) at 1 hpi, then activated effector-triggered immunity (ETI) at 3 hpi. This research provides new information on the interaction between P. expansum and apple fruit tissue at an early stage of the infection process.

Fruit-based diets are recognized for their benefits to human health. The safety of fruit is a global concern for scientists. Fruit microbiome represents the whole microorganisms that are associated with a fruit. These microbes are either found on the surfaces (epiphytes) or in the tissues of the fruit (endophytes). The recent knowledge gained from these microbial communities is considered relevant to the field of biological control in prevention of postharvest fruit pathology. In this study, the importance of the microbiome of certain fruits and how it holds promise for solving the problems inherent in biocontrol and postharvest crop protection are summarized. Research needs on the fruit microbiome are highlighted. Data from DNA sequencing and "meta-omics" technologies very recently applied to the study of microbial communities of fruits in the postharvest context are also discussed. Various fruit parameters, management practices, and environmental conditions are the main determinants of the microbiome. Microbial communities can be classified according to their structure and function in fruit tissues. A critical mechanism of microbial biological control agents is to reshape and interact with the microbiome of the fruit. The ability to control the microbiome of any fruit is a great potential in postharvest management of fruits. Research on the fruit microbiome offers important opportunities to develop postharvest biocontrol strategies and products, as well as the health profile of the fruit.