Antifungal Mechanism of 4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone Against Fusarium solani

Fusarium solani, a widely distributed plant pathogenic fungus, poses a significant threat to various crops due to its complex pathogenic mechanisms and being difficult to control. In this study, LC–TOF–MS analysis identified 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone (RK) as a metabolite detected in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain M1, and a commercially available RK standard was subsequently used to evaluate its antifungal activity against F. solani. Antifungal assays demonstrated that RK effectively suppressed fungal growth. Further physiological and biochemical assays confirmed that RK disrupts the cell membrane and mitochondrial function, leading to intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. This study offers new perspectives on the antifungal mechanism of RK and offers theoretical support for the development of innovative agricultural disease management strategies.