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Sui L, Zhu H, Wang D, Zhang Z, Bidochka MJ, Barelli L, Lu Y, Li Q. Tripartite interactions of an endophytic entomopathogenic fungus, Asian corn borer, and host maize under elevated carbon dioxide. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:4575-4584. [PMID: 38738508 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biological control of insect pests is encountering an unprecedented challenge in agricultural systems due to the ongoing rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) level. The use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in these systems is gaining increased attention, and EPF as crop endophytes hold the potential for combining insect pest control and yield enhancement of crops, but the effects of increased CO2 concentration on this interaction are poorly understood. Here, the introduction of endophytic EPF was explored as an alternative sustainable management strategy benefiting crops under elevated CO2, using maize (Zea mays), Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis), and EPF (Beauveria bassiana) to test changes in damage to maize plants from O. furnacalis, and the nutritional status (content of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), biomass, and yield of maize. RESULTS The results showed that endophytic B. bassiana could alleviate the damage caused by O. furnacalis larvae for maize plants under ambient CO2 concentration, and this effect was enhanced under higher CO2 concentration. Inoculation with B. bassiana effectively counteracted the adverse impact of elevated CO2 on maize plants by preserving the nitrogen content at its baseline level (comparable with ambient CO2 conditions without B. bassiana). Both simultaneous effects could explain the improvement of biomass and yield of maize under B. bassiana inoculation and elevated CO2. CONCLUSION This finding provides key information about the multifaceted benefits of B. bassiana as a maize endophyte. Our results highlight the promising potential of incorporating EPF as endophytes into integrated pest management strategies, particularly under elevated CO2 concentrations. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Sui
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jilin, China
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Deli Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhengkun Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jilin, China
| | - Michael J Bidochka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St Catharines, ON, Canada
| | - Larissa Barelli
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St Catharines, ON, Canada
| | - Yang Lu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jilin, China
| | - Qiyun Li
- College of Agriculture, Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University, Jilin, China
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Xu G, Li C, Gui W, Xu M, Lu J, Qian M, Zhang Y, Yang G. Colonization of Piriformospora indica enhances rice resistance against the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:4386-4398. [PMID: 38661024 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Piriformospora indica is an endophytic fungus that can promote the growth and confer resistance against diverse stresses in host plants by root colonization. However, the effects of P. indica colonization on improving plant resistance to insect pests are still less explored. The brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens is a serious monophagous pest that causes extensive damage to rice plants. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effects of P. indica colonization on rice resistance against BPH. RESULTS The colonization of P. indica in rice roots resisted damage from BPH. Age-stage, two-sex life table analyses showed that feeding on P. indica-colonized rice plants affected BPH's female adult longevity, oviposition period, fecundity, population parameters and population size. BPH female adults feeding on P. indica-colonized plants excreted less honeydew. P. indica colonization remarkably increased the duration of np, N2, and N3 waveform, as well as the occurrences of N1 and N2, and decreased the duration of N4-b for BPH on rice plants. Meanwhile, the weight of BPH on the colonized plants was significantly lower than the control. In addition, the feeding and oviposition preferences of BPH to P. indica-colonized plants were reduced. qRT-RCR analyses revealed that P. indica colonization induced the expressions of jasmonic acid (JA)- and salicylic acid (SA)-related genes in rice plants. CONCLUSION P. indica colonization can reduce BPH performance on rice plants with potential inhibitory effects on population growth. Collectively, these results support the potential for endophytically colonized P. indica as an effective strategy to improve insect resistance of crops. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Xu
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Chutong Li
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Wei Gui
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Meiqi Xu
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jing Lu
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Mingshi Qian
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guoqing Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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Zhang Z, Sui L, Tian Y, Lu Y, Xia X, Liu W, Cheng K, Li Q, Shi W. Metarhizium rileyi with broad-spectrum insecticidal ability confers resistance against phytopathogens and insect pests as a phytoendophyte. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:3246-3257. [PMID: 38358040 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Entomophagous fungi (EPF) not only directly kill insect pests, but also colonize plants and improve their resistance against pests. However, most previous research has focused on Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, and there are few reports on whether other EPF can enhance resistance against pests via endogenous colonization. Herein, an EPF strain was isolated from diseased larvae of Spodoptera litura in a soybean field, and subjected to genome-wide sequencing at the chromosomal level. The pathogenicity of the isolate toward various pest insects was evaluated, and the ability to colonize plants and induce resistance against phytopathogens and insect pests was tested. RESULTS The purified isolate was identified as M. rileyi and designated MrS1Gz1-1. Biological assays revealed its strong pathogenicity toward five insect pests belonging to Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. Furthermore, the strain inhibited the growth of soil-borne plant disease caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in vitro. It colonized plants as an endophyte via soil application, thereby inducing plant resistance-related genes against phytopathogen infection, and it disrupted the feeding selectivity of S. litura larvae. CONCLUSION M. rileyi MrS1Gz1-1 has potential as a broad-spectrum microbial control agent that can induce resistance against phytopathogens and insect pests feeding as an endotype. The complete genome provides a valuable resource for exploring host interactions. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengkun Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
| | - Li Sui
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
| | - Yifan Tian
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Lu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
| | - Xinyao Xia
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wende Liu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Cheng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
| | - Qiyun Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Wangpeng Shi
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Cunha JCS, Rivera Vega LJ, Torres JB, Suh CPC, Sword GA. Fungal seed treatments of cotton affect boll weevil development. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:1566-1576. [PMID: 37966378 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonpathogenic fungi associated with plants can enhance plant defenses against stress factors, including herbivory. This study assessed whether cotton plants grown from seeds treated with different fungi affected boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, development and reproduction along with plant tolerance. We used whole plants grown from seeds treated with different fungi (Chaetomium globosum TAMU520 and TAMU559, Phialemonium inflatum TAMU490, and Beauveria bassiana) versus non-treated controls to test insect growth, reproduction, and plant tolerance assays in a greenhouse. RESULTS Regarding boll weevil reproduction, fewer larvae hatched and fewer adults emerged from fungal-treated plants. In addition, the developmental time from oviposition to adult emergence was delayed in the plants treated with all fungi. For plant tolerance, B. bassiana-treated plants attacked by boll weevils shed fewer squares than nonfungal-treated plants. CONCLUSION Fungal treatments can affect boll weevil performance and reproduction on cotton plants, with potentially negative effects on population growth. Collectively, these results support the potential for cottonseed treatments with fungi as a novel tool for boll weevil management in the field. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janaina C S Cunha
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Loren J Rivera Vega
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Jorge B Torres
- Departamento de Agronomia-Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Charles P C Suh
- Insect Control and Cotton Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Gregory A Sword
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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Zhang Z, Tian Y, Sui L, Lu Y, Cheng K, Zhao Y, Li Q, Shi W. First record of Aspergillus nomiae as a broad-spectrum entomopathogenic fungus that provides resistance against phytopathogens and insect pests by colonization of plants. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1284276. [PMID: 38260878 PMCID: PMC10801167 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1284276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Aspergillus nomiae is known as a pathogenic fungus that infects humans and plants but has never been reported as an entomophagous fungus (EPF) that can provide other functions as an endotype. Methods A strain of EPF was isolated and identified from diseased larvae of Spodoptera litura in a soybean field and designated AnS1Gzl-1. Pathogenicity of the strain toward various insect pests was evaluated, especially the ability to colonize plants and induce resistance against phytopathogens and insect pests. Results The isolated EPF strain AnS1Gzl-1 was identified as A. nomiae; it showed strong pathogenicity toward five insect pests belonging to Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. Furthermore, the strain inhibited the growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in vitro, a causal agent of soil-borne plant disease. It colonized plants as an endophyte via root irrigation with a high colonization rate of 90%, thereby inducing plant resistance against phytopathogen infection, and disrupting the feeding selectivity of S. litura larvae. Discussion This is the first record of a natural infection of A. nomiae on insects. A. nomiae has the potential to be used as a dual biocontrol EPF because of its ability to not only kill a broad spectrum of insect pests directly but also induce resistance against phytopathogens via plant colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengkun Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
| | - Yifan Tian
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Sui
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
| | - Yang Lu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
| | - Ke Cheng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
| | - Qiyun Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Changchun, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University, Jilin, China
| | - Wangpeng Shi
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Cavazos-Vallejo T, Valadez-Lira JA, Orozco-Flores AA, Gomez-Flores R, Ek-Ramos MJ, Quistián-Martínez D, Alcocer-González JM, Tamez-Guerra P. In Planta Detection of Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) Strains as Endophytes in Bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:22. [PMID: 38202330 PMCID: PMC10781017 DOI: 10.3390/plants13010022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Beauveria bassiana (B. bassiana) is a significant entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) in agriculture as a sprayable biocontrol agent. It has the potential to be established as an endophyte (ENP) in various crops, resulting in beneficial effects for the host plants, including resistance to pest insects and increased growth and yield. However, it is not known whether a B. bassiana strain has such a favorable impact on the plant, since it is a common soil microorganism. Therefore, techniques that allow strain monitoring will be advantageous. To date, methods for detecting or monitoring a specific EPF strain after external application are scarce. In the present study, an in planta nested PCR technique was standardized to differentiate between three B. bassiana strains (GHA, PTG4, and BB37) established as endophytes in bean plants under laboratory conditions by detecting the insertion profile of four group I introns located in the 28S gene of B. bassiana ribosomal DNA. This technique recognized a distinct pattern of bands of different sizes for each strain, with a sensitivity of 1 pg per 10 ng of plant DNA. This molecular approach may be more effective monitoring B. bassiana strains after application to evaluate their significance on crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodora Cavazos-Vallejo
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (FCB), Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Avenida Pedro de Alba S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza C.P. 66451, Nuevo León, Mexico; (T.C.-V.); (J.A.V.-L.); (A.A.O.-F.); (R.G.-F.); (M.J.E.-R.); (J.M.A.-G.)
| | - José Alberto Valadez-Lira
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (FCB), Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Avenida Pedro de Alba S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza C.P. 66451, Nuevo León, Mexico; (T.C.-V.); (J.A.V.-L.); (A.A.O.-F.); (R.G.-F.); (M.J.E.-R.); (J.M.A.-G.)
| | - Alonso A. Orozco-Flores
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (FCB), Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Avenida Pedro de Alba S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza C.P. 66451, Nuevo León, Mexico; (T.C.-V.); (J.A.V.-L.); (A.A.O.-F.); (R.G.-F.); (M.J.E.-R.); (J.M.A.-G.)
| | - Ricardo Gomez-Flores
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (FCB), Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Avenida Pedro de Alba S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza C.P. 66451, Nuevo León, Mexico; (T.C.-V.); (J.A.V.-L.); (A.A.O.-F.); (R.G.-F.); (M.J.E.-R.); (J.M.A.-G.)
| | - María Julissa Ek-Ramos
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (FCB), Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Avenida Pedro de Alba S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza C.P. 66451, Nuevo León, Mexico; (T.C.-V.); (J.A.V.-L.); (A.A.O.-F.); (R.G.-F.); (M.J.E.-R.); (J.M.A.-G.)
| | - Deyanira Quistián-Martínez
- Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Avenida Pedro de Alba S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza C.P. 66451, Nuevo León, Mexico;
| | - Juan Manuel Alcocer-González
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (FCB), Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Avenida Pedro de Alba S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza C.P. 66451, Nuevo León, Mexico; (T.C.-V.); (J.A.V.-L.); (A.A.O.-F.); (R.G.-F.); (M.J.E.-R.); (J.M.A.-G.)
| | - Patricia Tamez-Guerra
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (FCB), Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Avenida Pedro de Alba S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza C.P. 66451, Nuevo León, Mexico; (T.C.-V.); (J.A.V.-L.); (A.A.O.-F.); (R.G.-F.); (M.J.E.-R.); (J.M.A.-G.)
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Sui L, Lu Y, Zhou L, Li N, Li Q, Zhang Z. Endophytic Beauveria bassiana promotes plant biomass growth and suppresses pathogen damage by directional recruitment. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1227269. [PMID: 37664126 PMCID: PMC10468600 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1227269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) can colonize and establish symbiotic relationships with plants as endophytes. Recently, EPF have been reported to suppress plant pathogens and induce plant resistance to diseases. However, the potential mechanisms via which EPF as endophytes control major plant diseases in situ remain largely unknown. Methods Pot and field experiments were conducted to investigate the mechanisms via which an EPF, Beauveria bassiana, colonizes tomato, under Botrytis cinerea infection stress. B. bassiana blastospores were inoculated into tomato plants by root irrigation. Tomato resistance to tomato gray mold caused by B. cinerea was evaluated by artificial inoculation, and B. bassiana colonization in plants and rhizosphere soil under B. cinerea infection stress was evaluated by colony counting and quantitative PCR. Furthermore, the expression levels of three disease resistance-related genes (OXO, CHI, and atpA) in tomato leaves were determined to explore the effect of B. bassiana colonization on plant disease resistance performance in pot experiments. Results B. bassiana colonization could improve resistance of tomato plants to gray mold caused by B. cinerea. The incidence rate, lesion diameter, and disease index of gray mold decreased in both the pot and field experiments following B. bassiana colonization. B. bassiana was more likely to accumulate in the pathogen infected leaves, while decreasing in the rhizosphere soil, and induced the expression of plant resistance genes, which were up-regulated in leaves. Discussion The results indicated that plants could "recruit" B. bassiana from rhizosphere soil to diseased plants as directional effects, which then enhanced plant growth and resistance against pathogens, consequently inhibiting pathogen infection and multiplication in plants. Our findings provide novel insights that enhance our understanding of the roles of EPF during pathogen challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Sui
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, Jilin, China
| | - Yang Lu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, Jilin, China
| | - Linyan Zhou
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Nannan Li
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Qiyun Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, Jilin, China
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University, Jilin, China
| | - Zhengkun Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, Jilin, China
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
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