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Plant Immunity Induced by BioControl Agent (BCAs) in Plant Pathogen Infection

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A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Microbe Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 18061

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jean Stéphane Venisse

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Guest Editor

UMR Integrative Physics and Physiology of Trees in Fluctuating Environments, University Clermont Auvergne-INRAE, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Interests: aquaporin; BioControl Agents (BCAs); trichoderma; plant Immunity
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants have developed multiple levels of defense responses to environmental challenges, rendering them remarkably resilient to a vast array of microbial infections. Disease is a “rare” physiological event in nature, but it is profoundly and persistently present in agriculture. In a context of multifactorial social urgency (e.g., human population increase, climate change, and globalization which accelerate the spread of infections, as well as growing awareness and rejection of the harmfulness of synthetic pesticides), the use of eco-friendly or beneficial biocontrol agents (BCAs) provides a reliable and sustainable alternative to synthetic pesticides to reduce the damage caused by phytopathogens on agricultural plantations and, ultimately, to increase the yield and quality of crops.

Biocontrol activity by endophytic bacteria and fungi (with the application of antimicrobial “bioformulations”) is still largely underused in agriculture. It is now becoming a very promising eco-responsible opportunity to sustain agricultural production. After decades of substantial research, we now have a good understanding of how plants and potential biocontrol agents recognize infectious microbes and control their aggressiveness and growth. Different mechanisms, such as competition, suppression, antibiosis, direct parasitism, induced plant immunity, hypovirulence, and predation are involved in the biological control of phytopathogens. However, many molecular and morphological mechanisms that control the complex multitrophic microbial interactions between each protagonist and lead to plant resistance against phytopathogens need to be further understood. Similarly, many diseases are still “controlled” by pesticides, although a vast field of ecological protection can be efficiently developed; they should be discovered, published, and applied as widely as possible. Lastly, the complex relationships between BCAs and plant microbiota must be exhaustively deciphered.

This Special Issue is devoted to the molecular mechanisms that induce the plant immunity to phytopathogens via biocontrol agents. It will include original articles and reviews including all aspects of the plant–BCA–microbe tripartite interaction. In this respect, potential topics will not be limited to plant immunity modulation, but it will include all physiological aspects related to specific BCAs’ molecular responses deployed whether in planta or in contact with phytopathogens and/or host microbiomes.

Dr. Jean Stéphane Venisse
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

Plant defenses
Plant Immunity
Biocontrol
BCA
Microbiomes
Trophic network
biotic & abiotic stress

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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36 pages, 4315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Tunisian Trichoderma Isolates on Wheat Seed Germination, Seedling Growth and Fusarium Seedling Blight Suppression

by Mouadh Saadaoui, Mohamed Faize, Ludovic Bonhomme, Noura Omri Benyoussef, Mohamed Kharrat, Hatem Chaar, Philippe Label and Jean-Stéphane Venisse

Microorganisms 2023, 11(6), 1512; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11061512 - 6 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2574

Abstract

Beneficial microorganisms, including members of the Trichoderma genus, are known for their ability to promote plant growth and disease resistance, as well as being alternatives to synthetic inputs in agriculture. In this study, 111 Trichoderma strains were isolated from the rhizospheric soil of Florence Aurore, an ancient wheat variety that was cultivated in an organic farming system in Tunisia. A preliminary ITS analysis allowed us to cluster these 111 isolates into three main groups, T. harzianum (74 isolates), T. lixii (16 isolates) and T. sp. (21 isolates), represented by six different species. Their multi-locus analysis (tef1, translation elongation factor 1; rpb2, RNA polymerase B) identified three T. afroharzianum, one T. lixii, one T. atrobrunneum and one T. lentinulae species. These six new strains were selected to determine their suitability as plant growth promoters (PGP) and biocontrol agents (BCA) against Fusarium seedling blight disease (FSB) in wheat caused by Fusarium culmorum. All of the strains exhibited PGP abilities correlated to ammonia and indole-like compound production. In terms of biocontrol activity, all of the strains inhibited the development of F. culmorum in vitro, which is linked to the production of lytic enzymes, as well as diffusible and volatile organic compounds. An in planta assay was carried out on the seeds of a Tunisian modern wheat variety (Khiar) by coating them with Trichoderma. A significant increase in biomass was observed, which is associated with increased chlorophyll and nitrogen. An FSB bioprotective effect was confirmed for all strains (with Th01 being the most effective) by suppressing morbid symptoms in germinated seeds and seedlings, as well as by limiting F. culmorum aggressiveness on overall plant growth. Plant transcriptome analysis revealed that the isolates triggered several SA- and JA-dependent defense-encoding genes involved in F. culmorum resistance in the roots and leaves of three-week-old seedlings. This finding makes these strains very promising in promoting growth and controlling FSB disease in modern wheat varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Immunity Induced by BioControl Agent (BCAs) in Plant Pathogen Infection)

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15 pages, 3154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Reveal the Response Mechanisms of Mikania micrantha to Puccinia spegazzinii Infection

by Xinghai Ren, Guangzhong Zhang, Mengjiao Jin, Fanghao Wan, Michael D. Day, Wanqiang Qian and Bo Liu

Microorganisms 2023, 11(3), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11030678 - 7 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1468

Abstract

Mikania micrantha is one of the worst invasive species globally and can cause significant negative impacts on agricultural and forestry economics, particularly in Asia and the Pacific region. The rust Puccinia spegazzinii has been used successfully as a biological control agent in several countries to help manage M. micrantha. However, the response mechanisms of M. micrantha to P. spegazzinii infection have never been studied. To investigate the response of M. micrantha to infection by P. spegazzinii, an integrated analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics was performed. The levels of 74 metabolites, including organic acids, amino acids, and secondary metabolites in M. micrantha infected with P. spegazzinii, were significantly different compared to those in plants that were not infected. After P. spegazzinii infection, the expression of the TCA cycle gene was significantly induced to participate in energy biosynthesis and produce more ATP. The content of most amino acids, such as L-isoleucine, L-tryptophan and L-citrulline, increased. In addition, phytoalexins, such as maackiain, nobiletin, vasicin, arachidonic acid, and JA-Ile, accumulated in M. micrantha. A total of 4978 differentially expressed genes were identified in M. micrantha infected by P. spegazzinii. Many key genes of M. micrantha in the PTI (pattern-triggered immunity) and ETI (effector-triggered immunity) pathways showed significantly higher expression under P. spegazzinii infection. Through these reactions, M. micrantha is able to resist the infection of P. spegazzinii and maintain its growth. These results are helpful for us to understand the changes in metabolites and gene expression in M. micrantha after being infected by P. spegazzinii. Our results can provide a theoretical basis for weakening the defense response of M. micrantha to P. spegazzinii, and for P. spegazzinii as a long-term biological control agent of M. micrantha. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Immunity Induced by BioControl Agent (BCAs) in Plant Pathogen Infection)

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20 pages, 5928 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seed Protection of Solanum lycopersicum with Pythium oligandrum against Alternaria brassicicola and Verticillium albo-atrum

by Kateřina Bělonožníková, Veronika Hýsková, Marie Vašková, Tomáš Křížek, Kateřina Čokrtová, Tomáš Vaněk, Lucie Halířová, Michal Chudý, Antoniana Žufić and Helena Ryšlavá

Microorganisms 2022, 10(7), 1348; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071348 - 4 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1960

Abstract

Pythium oligandrum, strain M1, is a soil oomycete successfully used as a biological control agent (BCA), protecting plants against fungal, yeast, and oomycete pathogens through mycoparasitism and elicitor-dependent plant priming. The not yet described Pythium strains, X42 and 00X48, have shown potential as BCAs given the high activity of their secreted proteases, endoglycosidases, and tryptamine. Here, Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Micro-Tom seeds were coated with Pythium strains, and seedlings were exposed to fungal pathogens, either Alternaria brassicicola or Verticillium albo-atrum. The effects of both infection and seed-coating on plant metabolism were assessed by determining the activity and isoforms of antioxidant enzymes and endoglycosidases and the content of tryptamine, amino acids, and heat shock proteins. Dual culture competition testing and microscopy analysis confirmed mycoparasitism in all three Pythium strains. In turn, seed treatment significantly increased the total free amino acid content, changing their abundance in both non-infected and infected plants. In response to pathogens, plant Hsp70 and Hsp90 isoform levels also varied among Pythium strains, most likely as a strategy for priming the plant against infection. Overall, our results show in vitro mycoparasitism between Pythium strains and fungal pathogens and in planta involvement of heat shock proteins in priming. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Immunity Induced by BioControl Agent (BCAs) in Plant Pathogen Infection)

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14 pages, 1280 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Performances of Beneficial Microorganisms on the Induction of Durum Wheat Tolerance to Fusarium Head Blight

by Zayneb Kthiri, Maissa Ben Jabeur, Kalthoum Harbaoui, Chahine Karmous, Zoubeir Chamekh, Fadia Chairi, Maria Dolores Serret, Jose Luis Araus and Walid Hamada

Microorganisms 2021, 9(12), 2410; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9122410 - 23 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2065

Abstract

Durum wheat production is seriously threatened by Fusarium head blight (FHB) attacks in Tunisia, and the seed coating by bio-agents is a great alternative for chemical disease control. This study focuses on evaluating, under field conditions, the effect of seed coating with Trichoderma harzianum, Meyerozyma guilliermondii and their combination on (i) FHB severity, durum wheat grain yield and TKW in three crop seasons, and (ii) on physiological parameters and the carbon and nitrogen content and isotope composition in leaves and grains of durum wheat. The results indicated that the treatments were effective in reducing FHB severity by 30 to 70% and increasing grain yield with an increased rate ranging from 25 to 68%, compared to the inoculated control. The impact of treatments on grain yield improvement was associated with higher NDVI and chlorophyll content and lower canopy temperature. Furthermore, the treatments mitigated the FHB adverse effects on N and C metabolism by resulting in a higher δ¹³Cgrain (¹³C/¹²Cgrain) and δ¹⁵Ngrain (¹⁵N/¹⁴Ngrain). Overall, the combination outperformed the other seed treatments by producing the highest grain yield and TKW. The high potency of seed coating with the combination suggests that the two microorganisms have synergetic or complementary impacts on wheat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Immunity Induced by BioControl Agent (BCAs) in Plant Pathogen Infection)

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Review

Jump to: Research

15 pages, 785 KiB

Open AccessReview

Actinobacteria as Effective Biocontrol Agents against Plant Pathogens, an Overview on Their Role in Eliciting Plant Defense

by Marzieh Ebrahimi-Zarandi, Roohallah Saberi Riseh and Mika T. Tarkka

Microorganisms 2022, 10(9), 1739; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10091739 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4613

Abstract

Pathogen suppression and induced systemic resistance are suitable alternative biocontrol strategies for integrated plant disease management and potentially comprise a sustainable alternative to agrochemicals. The use of Actinobacteria as biocontrol agents is accepted in practical sustainable agriculture, and a short overview on the plant-beneficial members of this phylum and recent updates on their biocontrol efficacies are the two topics of this review. Actinobacteria include a large portion of microbial rhizosphere communities and colonizers of plant tissues that not only produce pest-antagonistic secondary metabolites and enzymes but also stimulate plant growth. Non-pathogenic Actinobacteria can also induce systemic resistance against pathogens, but the mechanisms are still poorly described. In the absence of a pathogen, a mild defense response is elicited under jasmonic acid and salicylic acid signaling that involves pathogenesis-related proteins and secondary plant metabolites. Priming response partly includes the same compounds as the response to a sole actinobacterium, and the additional involvement of ethylene signaling has been suggested. Recent amplicon sequencing studies on bacterial communities suggest that future work may reveal how biocontrol active strains of Actinobacteria can be enriched in plant rhizosphere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Immunity Induced by BioControl Agent (BCAs) in Plant Pathogen Infection)

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19 pages, 3907 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Multifunctions and Future Prospects of Endophytes and Their Metabolites in Plant Disease Management

by Yandong Xia, Junang Liu, Cang Chen, Xiuli Mo, Qian Tan, Yuan He, Zhikai Wang, Jia Yin and Guoying Zhou

Microorganisms 2022, 10(5), 1072; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10051072 - 23 May 2022

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4431

Abstract

Endophytes represent a ubiquitous and magical world in plants. Almost all plant species studied by different researchers have been found to harbor one or more endophytes, which protect host plants from pathogen invasion and from adverse environmental conditions. They produce various metabolites that can directly inhibit the growth of pathogens and even promote the growth and development of the host plants. In this review, we focus on the biological control of plant diseases, aiming to elucidate the contribution and key roles of endophytes and their metabolites in this field with the latest research information. Metabolites synthesized by endophytes are part of plant disease management, and the application of endophyte metabolites to induce plant resistance is very promising. Furthermore, multi-omics should be more fully utilized in plant–microbe research, especially in mining novel bioactive metabolites. We believe that the utilization of endophytes and their metabolites for plant disease management is a meaningful and promising research direction that can lead to new breakthroughs in the development of more effective and ecosystem-friendly insecticides and fungicides in modern agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Immunity Induced by BioControl Agent (BCAs) in Plant Pathogen Infection)

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