Trichoderma asperellum FJ035 Restructure the Rhizosphere Microbiome to Control the Cucumber Fusarium Wilt

Area of Science:

• Plant Pathology
• Microbiology
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• The rhizosphere microbiome is crucial for plant health and disease resistance.
• Cucumber Fusarium wilt (CFW) is a significant soil-borne disease impacting crop yield.
• The role of Trichoderma in modulating rhizosphere microbial communities for CFW control remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanism by which Trichoderma asperellum FJ035 suppresses CFW.
• To analyze the impact of T. asperellum FJ035 on the cucumber rhizosphere microbiome.
• To develop and test microbial consortia for CFW management and cucumber growth promotion.

Main Methods:

• Microbiome transfer experiments to confirm disease suppression.
• Amplicon sequencing and cultivation-based methods to analyze microbial community composition.
• Construction and evaluation of synthetic microbial consortia (TB11 and TB5).

Main Results:

• T. asperellum FJ035 effectively suppressed CFW and altered the rhizosphere microbiome.
• Synthetic consortia TB11 and TB5 demonstrated significant CFW control and promoted cucumber growth.
• T. asperellum FJ035 facilitated the colonization of beneficial bacteria, forming a protective microbiota against Fusarium oxysporum.

Conclusions:

• T. asperellum FJ035 controls CFW by regulating native bacterial communities in the rhizosphere.
• Synthetic microbial consortia represent a sustainable strategy for healthy cucumber cultivation.
• This study provides novel insights into Trichoderma-mediated disease suppression via microbiome manipulation.