Chitosan: An Autocidal Molecule of Plant Pathogenic Fungus

Abstract

The rise in the world’s food demand with the increasing population threatens the existence of civilization with two equally valuable concerns: increase in global food production and sustainability in the ecosystem. Furthermore, biotic and abiotic stresses are adversely affecting agricultural production. Among them, losses caused by insect pests and pathogens have been shown to be more destructive to agricultural production. However, for winning the battle against the abundance of insect pests and pathogens and their nature of resistance development, the team of researchers is searching for an alternative way to minimize losses caused by them. Chitosan, a natural biopolymer, coupled with a proper application method and effective dose could be an integral part of sustainable alternatives in the safer agricultural sector. In this review, we have integrated the insight knowledge of chitin-chitosan interaction, successful and efficient use of chitosan, recommended and practical methods of use with well-defined doses, and last but not least the dual but contrast mode of action of the chitosan in hosts and as well as in pathogens.

In vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of chitosan and identification of potentially toxigenic fungi in stored maize of Nayarit, Mexico

“…Chitosan has the ability to chelate, and bind to metals, such as some important enzyme cofactors in the growth and development of fungi that are necessary for processes related to spore germination. By depriving the fungus of metallic cofactors, various enzymatic reactions are altered and this is reflected in physiological and morphological changes in the cell (Debnath et al, 2022;Mukarram et al, 2023;Saberi et al, 2024). The results of this study coincide with those reported by various authors for the three different fungi (Carvalho et al, 2020;Kocie ¸cka and Liberacki, 2021;Segura-Palacios et al, 2021;Sun et al, 2021).…”

“…Therefore, polycationic chitosan can potentially interact with negatively charged fungal cell membrane components (phospholipids, proteins). This electrostatic interaction results in the permeabilization of the plasma membrane, interfering with the normal growth and growth metabolism of fungal structures, mycelium, and spores (Debnath et al, 2022;Mukarram et al, 2023;Saberi et al, 2024).…”

Global Transcriptome Analysis of the Peach (Prunus persica) in the Interaction System of Fruit–Chitosan–Monilinia fructicola

“…Among them, chitosan, a versatile compound, is known, even at very low concentrations, to show direct antifungal activity and trigger, as a non-microbial elicitor, the defense mechanisms in plants that are challenged by pathogens [ 11 , 24 , 25 ]. Therefore, due to the dual nature of its action, chitosan is an autocidal fungal pathogen molecule that exhibits different mechanisms of action that may be directly related to the inhibition of pathogen’s growth, fertility, and multiplication [ 28 ]. The antifungal activity of chitosan was confirmed against phytopathogenic fungi either in vitro or in planta conditions [ 28 ].…”

“…Therefore, due to the dual nature of its action, chitosan is an autocidal fungal pathogen molecule that exhibits different mechanisms of action that may be directly related to the inhibition of pathogen’s growth, fertility, and multiplication [ 28 ]. The antifungal activity of chitosan was confirmed against phytopathogenic fungi either in vitro or in planta conditions [ 28 ]. In regard to M. fructicola , the application of chitosan significantly reduced the disease incidence in peach fruits [ 24 ], whereas efficient control of postharvest diseases was adequately postulated upon its application [ 29 ].…”

“…The direct antimicrobial effect of chitosan against M. fructicola was confirmed in our study, as a significantly different expression pattern was observed for the pathogen upon chitosan pre-treatment (CHI_MF) at all time points. Chitosan combines multiple modes of action that are directly related to the suppression of fungal pathogens, which includes the inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination, restriction of spore movement, changes of hyphal morphology, induction of metabolic disorders, and penetration of the plasma membrane, which triggers the intracellular production of ROS and leads to cell death [ 11 , 28 , 78 ]. Thus, the gene expression pattern of M. fructicola upon chitosan pre-treatment revealed a high number of genes related to metabolism that were not induced in most metabolic pathways compared to the MF treatment.…”