Biocontrol potential of Trichoderma harzianum isolate T-aloe against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soybean

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry Vol. 100; pp. 64 - 74
• Main Authors: Zhang, Fuli, Ge, Honglian, Zhang, Fan, Guo, Ning, Wang, Yucheng, Chen, Long, Ji, Xiue, Li, Chengwei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.03.2016
• Subjects: Ascomycota; biological control; biological control agents; branches; catalase; cell membranes; chlorophyll; culture filtrates; genes; Glycine max; Glycine max - microbiology; growth retardation; hydrogen peroxide; hyphae; leaves; mycoparasites; pathogens; peroxidase; Pest Control, Biological - methods; phenols; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Resistance; SA and JA/ET signaling; sclerotia; Sclerotinia; Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; Soybean seedlings; soybeans; stem rot; superoxide anion; superoxide dismutase; Trichoderma - growth & development; Trichoderma harzianum; Trichoderma harzianum T-aloe; Resistance; Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; Trichoderma harzianum T-aloe; Soybean seedlings; SA and JA/ET signaling
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.12.017

Sclerotinia stem rot, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a major disease of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). At present, we revealed the three-way interaction between Trichoderma harzianum T-aloe, pathogen S. sclerotiorum and soybean plants in order to demonstrate biocontrol mechanism and evaluate biocontrol potential of T-aloe against S. sclerotiorum in soybean. In our experiments, T-aloe inhibited the growth of S. sclerotiorum with an efficiency of 56.3% in dual culture tests. T-aloe hyphae grew in parallel or intertwined with S. sclerotiorum hyphae and produced hooked contact branches, indicating mycoparasitism. Plate tests showed that T-aloe culture filtrate inhibited S. sclerotiorum growth with an inhibition efficiency of 51.2% and sclerotia production. T-aloe pretreatment showed growth-promoting effect on soybean plants. The activities of peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase increased, and the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as well as the superoxide radical (O2-) content in soybean leaves decreased after T-aloe pretreatment in response to S. sclerotiorum pathogen challenge. T-aloe treatment diminished damage caused by pathogen stress on soybean leaf cell membrane, and increased chlorophyll as well as total phenol contents. The defense-related genes PR1, PR2, and PR3 were expressed in the leaves of T-aloe-treated plants. In summary, T-aloe displayed biocontrol potential against S. sclerotiorum. This is the first report of unraveling biocontrol potential of Trichoderma Spp. to soybean sclerotinia stem rot from the three-way interaction between the biocontrol agent, pathogen S. sclerotiorum and soybean plants. •Trichoderma harzianum T-aloe showed growth-promoting effect on soybean seedlings.•T-aloe showed biocontrol potential against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soybean.•T-aloe treatment diminished ROS damage and induced defense-related genes expression.