Trichoderma harzianum favours the access of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to non-host Brassicaceae roots and increases plant productivity

Sci Rep. 2019 Aug 12;9(1):11650. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48269-z.

Abstract

The family Brassicaceae includes plants that are non-host for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) such as the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (arabidopsis) and the economically important crop plant Brassica napus (rapeseed). It is well known that Trichoderma species have the ability to colonize the rhizosphere of Brassicaceae plants, promoting growth and development as well as stimulating systemic defenses. The aim of the present work is to ascertain that Brassicaceae plants increase productivity when AMF and Trichoderma are combinedly applied, and how such an effect can be ruled. This simultaneous application of a Trichoderma harzianum biocontrol strain and an AMF formulation produces a significant increase in the colonization by Trichoderma and the presence of AMF in arabidopsis and rapeseed roots, such colonization accompanied by improved productivity in both Brassicaceae species. Expression profiling of defense-related marker genes suggests that the phytohormone salicylic acid plays a key role in the modulation of the root colonization process when both fungi are jointly applied.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / growth & development*
  • Arabidopsis / microbiology
  • Brassica napus / growth & development*
  • Brassica napus / microbiology
  • Cyclopentanes / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Host Microbial Interactions / physiology
  • Mycorrhizae / physiology*
  • Oxylipins / metabolism
  • Pest Control, Biological / methods
  • Plant Growth Regulators / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / microbiology
  • Rhizosphere
  • Salicylic Acid / metabolism
  • Solanum lycopersicum / microbiology*
  • Symbiosis / physiology
  • Trichoderma / physiology*

Substances

  • Cyclopentanes
  • Oxylipins
  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • jasmonic acid
  • Salicylic Acid