Antimicrobial Peptaibols, Trichokonins, Inhibit Mycelial Growth and Sporulation and Induce Cell Apoptosis in the Pathogenic Fungus Botrytis cinerea

Trichokonins (TKs) are antimicrobial peptaibols extracted from Trichoderma pseudokoningii strain SMF2. In this paper, it was discovered that TK VI, the main active ingredient of TKs, had a profound inhibitory effect on the growth and sporulation of the moth orchid gray mold, Botrytis cinerea. In addition, TK VI increased the cell membrane permeability of the pathogen. Further investigation of nuclear DNA fragmentation, subcellular structure disintegration, and mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization, as well as the appearance of reactive oxygen species, indicated that TK VI could induce programmed cell death in the necrotrophic pathogenic fungus B. cinerea.