Comparative study of Trichoderma gene expression in interactions with tomato plants using high-density...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Plant Science
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Trichoderma species are extensively utilized as biopesticides and biofertilizers.
• These fungi influence plant health and disease resistance.
• Understanding their interaction with plants at a molecular level is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential effects of Trichoderma harzianum (T34), Trichoderma virens (T87), and Trichoderma hamatum (T7) on tomato lateral root development.
• To analyze the early gene expression profiles of these Trichoderma strains in the presence of tomato plants.

Main Methods:

• In vitro and in vivo assays were conducted with three Trichoderma strains and tomato plants.
• High-density oligonucleotide (HDO) microarrays were employed to study gene expression profiles after 20 hours of incubation.
• Gene expression changes were compared between Trichoderma incubated with and without tomato plants.

Main Results:

• A total of 1077 out of 34,138 Trichoderma probe sets showed significant expression changes (≥2-fold) in the presence of tomato plants.
• Carbohydrate metabolism, including chitin degradation enzymes, was the most significantly overrepresented process across all three strains.
• Hexokinase activity and genes encoding a 40S ribosomal protein and a P23 tumour protein were altered in T7 and T34 strains, which showed positive effects on plant development.

Conclusions:

• Trichoderma strains differentially modulate tomato lateral root growth and development.
• Early interactions involve significant changes in carbohydrate metabolism and chitin degradation pathways.
• Specific gene expression alterations in T7 and T34 correlate with beneficial effects on plant development.