Involvement of Trichoderma harzianum Epl-1 protein in the regulation of Botrytis virulence- and tomato defenserelated genes

• Grant number: 17/10070-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: July 01, 2017
• End date: August 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Roberto do Nascimento Silva
• Grantee: Roberto do Nascimento Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Several Trichoderma spp. are well known for their ability to: i) act as important biocontrol agents against phytopathogenic fungi;ii) function as biofertilizers; iii) increase the tolerance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses; and iv) induce plant defenseresponses via the production and secretion of elicitor molecules. In this study, we analyzed the gene-regulation effects ofTrichoderma harzianum Epl1 protein during the interactions of mutant ”epl1 or wildtype T. harzianum strains with: a) thephytopathogen Botrytis cinerea and b) with tomato plants, on short (24 h hydroponic cultures) and long periods (4-weeks oldplants) after Trichoderma inoculation. Our results indicate that T. harzianum Epl-1 protein affects the in vitro expression of B.cinerea virulence genes, especially those involved in the botrydial biosynthesis (BcBOT genes), during the mycoparasitisminteraction. The tomato defense-related genes were also affected, indicating that Epl-1 is involved in the elicitation of the salicylicacid pathway. Moreover, Epl-1 also regulates the priming effect in host tomato plants and contributes to enhance the interactionwith the host tomato plant during the early stage of root colonization. (AU)