Limosilactobacillus fermentum MQ10 reduces decay of sweet cherry during storage by altering surface microbiome and enhancing phenylpropane metabolism

This dataset provides high-throughput 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing data characterizing the dynamic changes in bacterial (V3-V4) and fungal (ITS1) communities on sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) surfaces during postharvest storage. The study investigates the biocontrol mechanism of Limosilactobacillus fermentum MQ10 against fungal decay through dual approaches:Microbial community remodeling: MQ10 application significantly inhibited pathogenic fungi while enriching beneficial genera like Lactobacillus and Rosenbergiella.Metabolic regulation: Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed MQ10's ability to activate phenylpropane pathway genes (PAL, C4H, 4CL) and boost antifungal metabolites (e.g., trans-cinnamic acid, flavonoids).These findings provide the first evidence of lactic acid bacteria enhancing fruit storability through microbiome-editing combined with metabolic reprogramming, offering novel insights for developing precision biocontrol strategies in postharvest management.