The Beneficial Endophytic Fungus Fusariumsolani Strain K Alters Tomato Responses Against Spider Mites to the Benefit of the Plant

Frontiers in Plant Science

Alexander Weinhold²  George D. Broufas³  Maria L. Pappas⁴  Maria Liapoura⁴  Kalliope K. Papadopoulou⁴  Nektarios Kavroulakis⁵  Dimitra Papantoniou⁶  Marianna Avramidou⁶ 

[1] Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DEMETER, Chania, Greece;German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany;Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany;Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology and Zoology, Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, Orestiada, Greece;;Laboratory of Phytopathology, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Plants &Laboratory of Plant and Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece;

关键词: endophyte;    Fusarium;    gene expression;    performance;    spider mites;    tomato;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpls.2018.01603

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Beneficial microorganisms are known to promote plant growth and confer resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors. Soil-borne beneficial microbes in particular have shown potential in protecting plants against pathogens and herbivores via the elicitation of plant responses. In this study, we evaluated the role of Fusarium solani strain K (FsK) in altering plant responses to the two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae in tomato. We found evidence that FsK, a beneficial endophytic fungal strain isolated from the roots of tomato plants grown on suppressive compost, affects both direct and indirect tomato defenses against spider mites. Defense-related genes were differentially expressed on FsK-colonized plants after spider mite infestation compared to clean or spider mite-infested un-colonized plants. In accordance, spider mite performance was negatively affected on FsK-colonized plants and feeding damage was lower on these compared to control plants. Notably, FsK-colonization led to increased plant biomass to both spider mite-infested and un-infested plants. FsK was shown to enhance indirect tomato defense as FsK-colonized plants attracted more predators than un-colonized plants. In accordance, headspace volatile analysis revealed significant differences between the volatiles emitted by FsK-colonized plants in response to attack by spider mites. Our results highlight the role of endophytic fungi in shaping plant–mite interactions and may offer the opportunity for the development of a novel tool for spider mite control.

【 授权许可】

Unknown