Understanding patulin role in blue mould of apples as a tool to improve its biological control

Abstract: Patulin ecological role has never been elucidated. Gene disruption was used to alter thesequence of 6-methyl-salicylic acid synthase. Disrupted mutants were significantly lesspathogenic and virulent on apples. Mutants were more susceptible to the antioxidant quercetinthan the wild type. Patulin seems to have a role in blue mould pathogenic development on apples.