Fengycin Production and Its Applications in Plant Growth and Postharvest Quality

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Fengycin is a cyclic lipopeptide produced mainly by the Bacillus genus, which is structurally composed of a β-hydroxy fatty acid and 10 amino acids. The biosynthesis of fengycin is catalyzed by large non-ribosomal peptide synthetases. Fengycin is an amphiphilic molecule with strong surface activity and displays strong antimicrobial activity. In this chapter, the molecular structure and biological properties of fengycin, and the function and catalyzing mechanism of fengycin multienzyme were summarized. Multiple antimicrobial mechanisms of fengycin and the strategies for increasing the production of fengycin were introduced. Fengycin has the advantages of low toxicity, biodegradation and high stability. Its applications, including biological control of plant pathogens, bioremediation of a contaminated environment, postharvest disease control of fruit and vegetables, food processing and preservation, etc., were reviewed finally.