Transcriptomic profiling of Aspergillus flavus in response to essential oil-based antifungal formulation ZTC

Aspergillus flavus is a major fungal pathogen responsible for pre- and post-harvest crop losses due to its production of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a class I human carcinogen. This study investigated the antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic effects of ZTC, a chemically defined essential oil-based formulation comprising Zingiber officinale, Trachyspermum ammi, and Coleus aromaticus. RNA-seq analysis was performed to decipher the global transcriptional response of toxigenic A. flavus upon treatment with sub-lethal concentrations of ZTC. The transcriptomic data reveal ZTC-induced disruption of cellular pathways involved in ergosterol biosynthesis, mitochondrial function, redox balance, energy metabolism (glycolysis, TCA cycle, ATP synthesis), and aflatoxin biosynthesis. These findings highlight the multi-targeted mode of action of ZTC and its potential as a sustainable antifungal strategy to mitigate AFB1 contamination.