Preliminary Exploration of the Inhibitory Mechanism of Lauryl Alcohol on Plant Pathogenic Fungi

Lauryl alcohol, a naturally occurring compound widely used in food, pharmaceuticals, and surfactants, exhibits a potent antifungal activity. GZM, a plant protection formulation primarily composed of lauryl alcohol, is hypothesized to form a physical barrier on the plant surface. Here, we demonstrate that lauryl alcohol effectively reduces Fusarium head blight incidence and significantly inhibits Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in vitro. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model, we show that lauryl alcohol induces fungal apoptosis by disrupting mitochondrial function, impairing cell wall and membrane integrity, and increasing the number of reactive oxygen species. Transcriptome analysis reveals downregulation of genes involved in mitochondrial respiratory chain complex and ATP synthase biosynthesis. These findings highlight the potential of lauryl alcohol as a safe, eco-friendly fungicide for agricultural use.