1 research outputs found
Biosolidâamended soil enhances defense responses in tomato based on metagenomic profile and expression of pathogenesisârelated genes
Biosolid application is an effective strategy, alternative to synthetic chemicals, for enhancing plant growth and performance and improving soil properties. In previous research, biosolid application has shown promising results with respect to tomato resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicisâlycopersici (Forl). Herein, we aimed at elucidating the effect of biosolid application on the plantâmicrobiome response mechanisms for tomato resistance against Forl at a molecular level. More specifically, plantâmicrobiome interactions in the presence of biosolid application and the biocontrol mechanism against Forl in tomato were investigated. We examined whether biosolids application in vitro could act as an inhibitor of growth and sporulation of Forl. The effect of biosolid application on the biocontrol of Forl was investigated based on the enhanced plant resistance, measured as expression of pathogenâresponse genes, and pathogen suppression in the context of soil microbiome diversity, abundance, and predicted functions. The expression of the pathogenâresponse genes was variably induced in tomato plants in different time points between 12 and 72 h post inoculation in the biosolidâenriched treatments, in the presence or absence of pathogens, indicating activation of defense responses in the plant. This further suggests that biosolid application resulted in a successful priming of tomato plants inducing resistance mechanisms against Forl. Our results have also demonstrated that biosolid application alters microbial diversity and the predicted soil functioning, along with the relative abundance of specific phyla and classes, as a proxy for disease suppression. Overall, the use of biosolid as a sustainable soil amendment had positive effects not only on plant health and protection, but also on growth of nonâpathogenic antagonistic microorganisms against Forl in the tomato rhizosphere and thus, on plantâsoil microbiome interactions, toward biocontrol of Forl. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland