Theanine enhances resistance to Botrytis cinerea in postharvest strawberry fruit via modulating cell-wall and phenylpropanoid metabolisms

Theanine (N-ethyl-γ-glutamine), as a unique non-protein amino acid, plays vital roles in abiotic stress resistance, while its roles in biotic stress resistance are still unclear. Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is a major disease in strawberries. Effects of theanine on the development of gray mold, cell-wall and phenylpropanoid metabolisms in strawberries were investigated in this study. Results showed that 5 mmol L −1 theanine treatment reduced disease incidence and severity of gray mold in strawberries with antifungal activity in vitro. Meanwhile, theanine treatment enhanced the accumulation of phenolic compounds and lignin, especially ellagic acid, cyanidin, and quercetin, which was associated with increased phenylpropanoid pathway related enzyme activities. Moreover, theanine induced callose deposition and suppressed cell- wall disassembling enzymes, accompanied by higher levels of water insoluble pectin, hemicellulose and cellulose. Therefore, theanine treatment could alleviate decay of B. cinerea- inoculated strawberries by regulating phenylpropanoid and cell-wall metabolisms, maintaining higher levels of phenolic compounds and cell-wall components, thereby contributing to disease resistance and cell-wall structure integrity. • Cell wall and phenylpropanoid metabolisms were related to disease resistance. • Theanine treatment controlled gray mold in strawberries. • Theanine restrained the mycelium growth of B. cinerea in vitro. • Theanine enhanced the accumulation of phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanins. • Theanine maintained high contents of callose, lignin and cell wall components.