Effect of farnesol on morphogenesis in the fungal pathogen Penicillium expansum

Farnesol as a quorum-sensing molecule secreted by Candida albicans prevents the yeast to mycelium conversion and causes the cultures to grow as activity budding yeasts, but has no effect on cellular growth rates. A growth inhibitory effect on Penicillium expansum was found in our study by addition of exogenous farnesol to cultures, just like which was reported on Aspergillus nidulans. The result implied that farnesol triggered apoptosis-like phenotype in P. expansum, including nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation and the integrity of plasma membranes. Besides, farnesol induced the morphology of hypha changes when it was exposed to P. expansum spores suspension.