Tomato progeny inherit resistance to the nematode Meloidogyne javanica linked to plant growth induced by the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma atroviride

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 40216
• Main Authors: Medeiros, Hugo Agripino de, Araújo Filho, Jerônimo Vieira de, Freitas, Leandro Grassi de, Castillo, Pablo, Rubio, María Belén, Hermosa, Rosa, Monte, Enrique
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 10.01.2017; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 38/39; 38/77; 631/449/2169/2674; 631/449/2676; 96; Animals; Biological control; Disease Resistance; Fitness; Fungi; Galls; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Humanities and Social Sciences; Indoleacetic Acids - metabolism; multidisciplinary; Nematodes; Offspring; Pathogens; Plant Development; Plant Diseases - immunology; Plant Diseases - parasitology; Plant growth; Plant Roots - parasitology; Reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Roots; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Solanum lycopersicum - growth & development; Solanum lycopersicum - immunology; Solanum lycopersicum - parasitology; Tomatoes; Trichoderma - growth & development; Tylenchoidea - immunology
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep40216

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) are major crop pathogens worldwide. Trichoderma genus fungi are recognized biocontrol agents and a direct activity of Trichoderma atroviride (Ta) against the RKN Meloidogyne javanica (Mj), in terms of 42% reduction of number of galls (NG), 60% of number of egg masses and 90% of number of adult nematodes inside the roots, has been observed in tomato grown under greenhouse conditions. An in vivo split-root designed experiment served to demonstrate that Ta induces systemic resistance towards Mj, without the need for the organisms to be in direct contact, and significantly reduces NG (20%) and adult nematodes inside tomato roots (87%). The first generation (F1) of Ta-primed tomato plants inherited resistance to RKN; although, the induction of defenses occurred through different mechanisms, and in varying degrees, depending on the Ta-Mj interaction. Plant growth promotion induced by Ta was inherited without compromising the level of resistance to Mj, as the progeny of Ta-primed plants displayed increased size and resistance to Mj without fitness costs. Gene expression results from the defense inductions in the offspring of Ta-primed plants, suggested that an auxin-induced reactive oxygen species production promoted by Ta may act as a major defense strategy during plant growth.