Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Elucidate the Regulatory Network in Banana Fruits in Response to Fumonisin during <i>Fusarium proliferatum</i> Infection

The network affected by fumonisin in banana fruit during Fusarium proliferatum infection remains largely elusive. Here, integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses in banana peel after inoculation with fumonisin biosynthesis mutation ( ΔFpfum21 ) and wild-type F. proliferatum strains were employed to investigate fumonisin-mediated regulation. Results showed that defense-related genes and metabolites involved in hormone, transcription factor, reactive oxygen species, and lipid metabolism were disturbed during F. proliferatum infection but recovered in ΔFpfum21 -inoculated banana peel, suggesting potential targets by fumonisin. In contrast, ΔFpfum21 strain inoculation resulted in downregulation of the triacylglycerol content and CYP450s, patatin-like protein 2, suggesting their potential roles as biomarkers or susceptibility factors in response to fumonisin. Additionally, energy metabolism and ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation pathways were related to the fumonisin-mediated F. proliferatum virulence to banana fruit. This study offered new insights into the molecular dynamics in fumonisin-mediated regulation of banana peel during F. proliferatum infection, causing crown rot.