Trichoderma asperellum Induces Maize Seedling Growth by Activating the Plasma Membrane H⁺-ATPase

Although Trichoderma spp. have beneficial effects on numerous plants, there is not enough knowledge about the mechanism by which they improves plant growth. In this study, we evaluated the participation of plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase, a key enzyme involved in promoting cell growth, in the elongation induced by T. asperellum and compared it with the effect of 10 μM indol acetic acid (IAA) because IAA promotes elongation and PM H⁺-ATPase activation. Two seed treatments were tested: biopriming and noncontact. In neither were the tissues colonized by T. asperellum; however, the seedlings were longer than the control seedlings, which also accumulated IAA and increased root acidification. An auxin transport inhibitor (2,3,5 triiodobenzoic acid) reduced the plant elongation induced by Trichoderma spp. T. asperellum seed treatment increased the PM H⁺-ATPase activity in plant roots and shoots. Additionally, the T. asperellum extracellular extract (TE) activated the PM H⁺-ATPase activity of microsomal fractions of control plants, although it contained 0.3 μM IAA. Furthermore, the mechanism of activation of PM H⁺-ATPase was different for IAA and TE; in the latter, the activation depends on the phosphorylation state of the enzyme, suggesting that, in addition to IAA, T. asperellum excretes other molecules that stimulate PM H⁺-ATPase to induce plant growth.