Abstract:Objective To investigate the biocontrol potential of Penicillium sinense GS218, a new endophytic fungus, and to analyze the antifungal mechanism, so as to provide elite strain resources and lay a theoretical foundation for the biocontrol of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in pepper.Methods Plate assays were employed to determine the hydrolase activity and siderophore production capacity of GS218. The inhibitory effects of GS218 on different phytopathogenic fungi were evaluated by the plate confrontation method. Whole genome sequencing was performed to obtain insights into the genetic information and physiological functions of the strain. The metabolome of strain GS218 co-cultured with C. gloeosporioides was analyzed to explore the potential active substances for the inhibitory effects. The medicated plate method was employed to validate the inhibitory activities of differential metabolites.Results Strain GS218 had hydrolase activity, produced siderophores, and exhibited strong inhibitory effects on five pathogenic fungi (with the inhibition rate of 72.76% on C. gloeosporioides in pepper). The sterile fermentation filtrate of strain GS218 demonstrated a good control effect on pepper anthracnose. The genome size of strain GS218 was 27.77 Mb, which has abundant metabolic pathways, and its genome contained 30 synthetic gene clusters for secondary metabolites. The metabolomics analysis showed that strain GS218 contained rich antimicrobial substances in organic acids and derivatives, phenylpropanoids and polyketides, and lipids and lipid-like molecules (including terpenoids). Compounds such as 7-ethoxycoumarin and pyruvic acid showed inhibitory effects against C. gloeosporioides in pepper.Conclusion The new strain, P. sinense GS218, has significant inhibitory effects on C. gloeosporioides and promising application prospects in the green development of agriculture. Whole genome sequencing and metabolomics analysis provide a theoretical basis for deciphering the biocontrol mechanism of strain GS218.