Open AccessThe beneficial effect of Trichoderma spp. on tomato is modulated by the plant genotype
Author(s) -
TUCCI MARINA,
RUOCCO MICHELINA,
DE MASI LUIGI,
DE PALMA MONICA,
LORITO MATTEO
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1111/j.1364-3703.2010.00674.x
Subject(s) - biology , trichoderma , botrytis cinerea , salicylic acid , biopesticide , trichoderma harzianum , plant disease resistance , systemic acquired resistance , rhizosphere , pathogen , botany , fungus , genotype , biological pest control , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , agronomy , mutant , arabidopsis , pesticide , bacteria
SUMMARY Rhizosphere‐competent fungi of the genus Trichoderma are widely used as biofertilizers and biopesticides in commercial formulates because of the multiple beneficial effects on plant growth and disease resistance. In this work, we demonstrate that genetic variability among wild and cultivated tomato lines affects the outcome of the interaction with two ‘elite’ biocontrol strains of T. atroviride and T. harzianum . The beneficial response, which included enhanced growth and systemic resistance against Botrytis cinerea , was clearly evident for some, but not all, the tested lines. At least in one case (line M82), treatment with the biocontrol agents had no effect or was even detrimental. Expression studies on defence‐related genes suggested that the fungus is able to trigger, in the responsive lines, a long‐lasting up‐regulation of the salicylic acid pathway in the absence of a pathogen, possibly activating a priming mechanism in the plant. Consequently, infection with B. cinerea on plants pretreated with Trichoderma is followed by enhanced activation of jasmonate‐responsive genes, eventually boosting systemic resistance to the pathogen in a plant genotype‐dependent manner. Our data indicate that, at least in tomato, the Trichoderma induced systemic resistance mechanism is much more complex than considered so far, and the ability of the plant to benefit from this symbiotic‐like interaction can be genetically improved.