Aspergillus terreus JF27 Promotes the Growth of Tomato Plants and Induces Resistance against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato

Abstract

Certain beneficial microorganisms isolated from rhizosphere soil promote plant growth and induce resistance to a wide variety of plant pathogens. We obtained 49 fungal isolates from the rhizosphere soil of paprika plants, and selected 18 of these isolates that did not inhibit tomato seed germination for further investigation. Based on a seed germination assay, we selected four isolates for further plant tests. Treatment of seeds with isolate JF27 promoted plant growth in pot tests, and suppressed bacterial speck disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pathovar (pv.) tomato DC3000. Furthermore, expression of the pathogenesis-related 1 (PR1) gene was higher in the leaves of tomato plants grown from seeds treated with JF27; expression remained at a consistently higher level than in the control plants for 12 h after pathogen infection. The phylogenetic analysis of a partial internal transcribed spacer sequence and the β-tubulin gene identified isolate JF27 as Aspergillus terreus. Taken together, these results suggest that A. terreus JF27 has potential as a growth promoter and could be used to control bacterial speck disease by inducing resistance in tomato plants.

Aspegillus terreus: From Soil to Industry and Back

“…The low level of salicylic and jasmonic acids in A. terreus-sunflower system in comparison to control diseased plants demonstrated the positive effect of A. terreus to counteract biotic stress conditions. Similar multifunctional properties of soil isolates of A. terreus were confirmed in pot experiments with tomato [58]. A. terreus selected amongst 49 other microorganisms, was found to promote plant growth after seed treatment simultaneously reducing infection by Pseudomonas syringe pv.…”

Keystone metabolites of crop rhizosphere microbiomes

“…Despite the fact that certain fungal pathogens destroy a significant portion of food crops annually, there are many more beneficial fungi that promote tree and shrub growth by helping plants draw in water, scavenge nutrients from the soil, aid in stress tolerance and repel pathogens; indeed, almost all plant species have symbiotic relationships with fungi [13,14]. Recent studies involving wheat, rice, and tomatoes indicate plant growth promoting fungi can also play a role in crop robustness [15][16][17]. These observations suggest that existing or added fungi merit consideration with respect to food security.…”

Enhancement of Seawater Stress Tolerance in Barley by the Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus ochraceus

“…Moreover, fungal endophytes play a major role as biocontrol agents toward phytopathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum [ 14 ], F. solani [ 15 ], Verticillium dahlia [ 16 ], and Rhizoctonia solani [ 17 ]. Many endophytic fungi were used for plant growth promotion as well as biocontrol agents—for instance, Chaetomium globosum and Trichoderma harzanium [ 18 ], Aspergillus parasiticus [ 19 ], Aspergillus ustus [ 20 ], Aspergillus terreus JF27 [ 21 ], and Aspergillus niger [ 22 ]. Fungal endophytes enhance plant vigor by resisting herbivory and promote plant growth by increasing the nutrient uptake and water use efficacy and by decreasing environmental stresses [ 23 ].…”