Abstract
Verticillium wilt is a devastating soil-borne disease that significantly impacts cotton production, necessitating the development the effective biofumigants for its control. In this study, the inhibitory effect of total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Talaromyces purpureogenus CEF642(N) against Verticillium dahliae were evaluated using the one strain many compounds (OSMAC) strategy and analyzed through volatile metabolome. CEF642(N) was found to produce two primary VOCs, 3-octanol and 2-octenal, (E)-, both of which demonstrated significant antifungal activity. Transcriptome analysis of mycelium grown on various solid media revealed notable differences in the expression of genes associated with arachidonic acid metabolism, lipoxygenase (LOX), and lytic enzymes. These findings provide a foundation for future research aimed at identifying key genes involved in the eight-carbon volatile biosynthetic pathway.