Antifungal Properties and Mechanism of Pogostone Against Postharvest <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> Infection in Mango

Pogostone, a major constituent of <i>Pogostemon cablin</i>, displays various biological properties. Here, we systematically assessed the antifungal and preservative activities of pogostone against <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> in mango and explored its antifungal mechanism. Pogostone exhibited strong <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> inhibition against <i>C. gloeosporioides</i>, with EC₅₀ values of 2.50 mg/L for hyphal growth and 3.23 mg/L for spore germination. Pogostone prolonged mango shelf life by reducing weight loss, maintaining firmness, and regulating TSS, TA, VC, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzyme activities. We also found that pogostone affected the microstructure of fungal hyphae, disrupting the integrity of the plasma membrane and ultimately causing leakage of cellular contents. Moreover, with increasing concentration and exposure time, the mode of cell death shifted from apoptosis to necrosis. In summary, this study showed that pogostone was a promising natural preservative against <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> in mangoes and enhanced our understanding of its antifungal mechanism.