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Plant-Microbe Interactions
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Plant-Microbe Interactions

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 26845

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Michelina Ruocco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP)-CNR, Portici (NA), Italy
Interests: biocontrol; plant pathology; Trichoderma; VOCs; microbiology; molecular–plant–microbe interaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Maurilia Maria Monti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Italian National Research Council (CNR), Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), Via Università 133 Portici (NA), Italy
Interests: Research interests are focused on different aspects of agricultural eco-systems: multitrophic interaction, pest antagonists and bioremediation. In particular, she is interested in mechanisms at the base of microbe-plant interaction, through the identification of volatiles signals (VOCs) between fungi and plants; in molecular characterization of pest antagonists (Hymenoptera Chalcidoidea parasitoids), to complement traditional taxonomy and phylogenetics, to identify molecular markers, and to understand the role of endosymbiotic bacteria in parthenogenetic reproduction of some of those parasitoids. Moreover, she is studying genes involved in degradation pathways of chlorinated synthetic contaminants, through genome and transcriptome analysis of fungal species and Drosophila melanogaster.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In a natural environment, plants and microbes are in constant association. The result is a fine interplay based on signals and chemical messages continuously shared by the players. Every year, plant diseases cause an estimated loss of 40 billion dollars worldwide, either directly or indirectly. Today, there is a growing interest in developing low-input and more sustainable agricultural practices that include alternatives to chemicals for controlling pests and diseases. Research has been focusing on new sources of potential biological control microbes as valid alternatives for the management of pests and plant pathogens. It is well known that plant health depends on interactions with complex and dynamic communities, comprising macro- and microorganisms, and there is an increasing body of evidence that demonstrates the potential of leaf and root-associated microbiomes to increase plant efficiency and yield in cropping systems. Understanding the role and the various modes of action of these microbes in promoting plant growth and controlling diseases will greatly enhance their application as biofertilizers and biopesticides.

In recent years, the accumulation of a large amount of data in this field has come from the application of continuously improving techniques, such as all the “omics” sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, or metabolomics), that have led to major advances in our understanding of plant–microbe interactions, from many perspectives. This Special Issue will merge information and results achieved through different approaches, allowing a deeper comprehension of plant–microbe interaction and of physiological factors that are at the base of plant–microbe (beneficial and detrimental) interactions.

From the perspective of integrating multiple approaches, this Special Issue will accept papers from different fields of research, for example, on the following topics:

Phytobiomes; root physiology and the role of root exudates in shaping plant–microbe interaction (aboveground and belowground); plant and microbial transporter proteins involved in plant–microbe interaction; interaction among members of phytobiomes and network analyses of intrakingdom interactions; molecules known to be involved in molecular plant–microbe cross-talk; plant–microbe interaction at multitrophic level.

Dr. Michelina Ruocco
Dr. Maurilia Maria Monti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • beneficials
  • plant–microbe
  • mamp
  • damp
  • pamp
  • plant pathogen
  • multitrophic
  • signaling

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 4270 KiB  
Article
Exogenous Application of Polycationic Nanobactericide on Tomato Plants Reduces the Candidatus Liberibacter Solanacearum Infection
by Adela Nazareth García-Sánchez, Roberto Yáñez-Macias, José Luis Hernández-Flores, Ariel Álvarez-Morales, José Humberto Valenzuela-Soto, Carlos Guerrero-Sanchez and Ramiro Guerrero-Santos
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2096; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102096 - 03 Oct 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1626
Abstract
Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CaLso) is associated with diseases in tomato crops and transmitted by the tomato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli. A polymeric water-dispersible nanobactericide (PNB) was evaluated against CaLso as a different alternative. PNB is a well-defined polycationic diblock copolymer designed [...] Read more.
Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CaLso) is associated with diseases in tomato crops and transmitted by the tomato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli. A polymeric water-dispersible nanobactericide (PNB) was evaluated against CaLso as a different alternative. PNB is a well-defined polycationic diblock copolymer designed to permeate into the vascular system of plants. Its assessment under greenhouse conditions was carried out with tomato plants previously infected with CaLso. Using a concentration as low as 1.0 mg L−1, a small but significant reduction in the bacterial load was observed by real-time qPCR. Thus, to achieve an ecologically friendly dosage and set an optimum treatment protocol, we performed experiments to determine the effective concentration of PNB to reduce ~65% of the initial bacterial load. In a first bioassay, a 40- or 70-fold increase was used to reach that objective. At this concentration level, other bioassays were explored to determine the effect as a function of time. Surprisingly, a real reduction in the symptoms was observed after three weeks, and there was a significant decrease in the bacterial load level (~98%) compared to the untreated control plants. During this period, flowering and formation of tomato fruits were observed in plants treated with PNB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Microbe Interactions)
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20 pages, 7871 KiB  
Article
Controlling Alternaria cerealis MT808477 Tomato Phytopathogen by Trichoderma harzianum and Tracking the Plant Physiological Changes
by Ghada Abd-Elmonsef Mahmoud, Mohamed A. Abdel-Sater, Eshraq Al-Amery and Nemmat A. Hussein
Plants 2021, 10(9), 1846; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091846 - 06 Sep 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2306
Abstract
Plant responses during the pathogen infection and the pathogen control reflect its strategies to protect its cells. This work represents the Alternaria cerealis MT808477 as a phytopathogen causing leaf spot disease in tomatoes. A. cerealis was identified morphologically and genetically by 18SrRNA, and [...] Read more.
Plant responses during the pathogen infection and the pathogen control reflect its strategies to protect its cells. This work represents the Alternaria cerealis MT808477 as a phytopathogen causing leaf spot disease in tomatoes. A. cerealis was identified morphologically and genetically by 18SrRNA, and its pathogenicity was confirmed by light and scanning electron microscopy. Trichoderma harzianum has the ability to control A. cerealis MT808477 by stimulating various cell responses during the controlling process. The cell behavior during the biological control process was observed by analyses of total phenol, flavonoids, terpenoids, antioxidant, malondialdehyde and antioxidant enzymes (catalase and peroxidase). The extracts of infected tomato leaves were tested against plant and human pathogenic microorganisms. Results showed that the biological control process activates the defense cell strategies by increasing the plant tolerance, and activation of plant defense systems. The total phenol, flavonoids, terpenoids, antioxidant and malondialdehyde were increased after 48 h. Catalase and peroxidase were increased in infected tomato plants and decreased during the biological control process, reflecting the decrease of cell stress. Leaves extract inhibited the growth of nine plant and human pathogenic microorganisms. Biological control represents a safe and effective solution to phytopathogens that decreases plant cell stress by stimulating various defensive agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Microbe Interactions)
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16 pages, 2112 KiB  
Article
Context-Dependent Effects of Trichoderma Seed Inoculation on Anthracnose Disease and Seed Yield of Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris): Ambient Conditions Override Cultivar-Specific Differences
by Karina Gutiérrez-Moreno, Michelina Ruocco, Maurilia Maria Monti, Octavio Martínez de la Vega and Martin Heil
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1739; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081739 - 23 Aug 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2487
Abstract
Root colonizing Trichoderma fungi can stimulate plant immunity, but net effects are strain × cultivar-specific and changing ambient conditions further contribute to variable outcomes. Here, we used four Trichoderma spp. to inoculate seeds of four common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivars and [...] Read more.
Root colonizing Trichoderma fungi can stimulate plant immunity, but net effects are strain × cultivar-specific and changing ambient conditions further contribute to variable outcomes. Here, we used four Trichoderma spp. to inoculate seeds of four common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivars and explored in three different experimental setups the effects on fungal anthracnose after leaf inoculation with Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. Plants growing in pots with field soil under greenhouse conditions exhibited the highest and those in the open field the lowest overall levels of disease. Among 48 Trichoderma strain × bean cultivar × setup combinations, Trichoderma-inoculation enhanced disease in six and decreased disease in ten cases, but with the exception of T. asperellum B6-inoculated Negro San Luis beans, the strain × cultivar-specific effects on anthracnose severity differed among the setups, and anthracnose severity did not predict seed yield in the open field. In the case of Flor de Mayo beans, Trichoderma even reduced yield in anthracnose-free field plots, although this effect was counterbalanced in anthracnose-infected plots. We consider our work as a case study that calls for stronger emphasis on field experiments in the early phases of screenings of Trichoderma inoculants as plant biostimulants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Microbe Interactions)
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22 pages, 6411 KiB  
Article
Metabolomic Evaluation of Tissue-Specific Defense Responses in Tomato Plants Modulated by PGPR-Priming against Phytophthora capsici Infection
by Msizi I. Mhlongo, Lizelle A. Piater, Paul A. Steenkamp, Nico Labuschagne and Ian A. Dubery
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1530; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081530 - 26 Jul 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2615
Abstract
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can stimulate disease suppression through the induction of an enhanced state of defense readiness. Here, untargeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS) and targeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC–QqQ-MS) were used to investigate metabolic [...] Read more.
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can stimulate disease suppression through the induction of an enhanced state of defense readiness. Here, untargeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS) and targeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC–QqQ-MS) were used to investigate metabolic reprogramming in tomato plant tissues in response to priming by Pseudomonas fluorescens N04 and Paenibacillus alvei T22 against Phytophthora capsici. Roots were treated with the two PGPR strains prior to stem inoculation with Ph. capsici. Metabolites were methanol-extracted from roots, stems and leaves at two–eight days post-inoculation. Targeted analysis by UHPLC–QqQ-MS allowed quantification of aromatic amino acids and phytohormones. For untargeted analysis, UHPLC–MS data were chemometrically processed to determine signatory biomarkers related to priming against Ph. capsici. The aromatic amino acid content was differentially reprogrammed in Ps. fluorescens and Pa. alvei primed plants responding to Ph. capsici. Furthermore, abscisic acid and methyl salicylic acid were found to be major signaling molecules in the tripartite interaction. LC–MS metabolomics analysis showed time-dependent metabolic changes in the primed-unchallenged vs. primed-challenged tissues. The annotated metabolites included phenylpropanoids, benzoic acids, glycoalkaloids, flavonoids, amino acids, organic acids, as well as oxygenated fatty acids. Tissue-specific reprogramming across diverse metabolic networks in roots, stems and leaves was also observed, which demonstrated that PGPR priming resulted in modulation of the defense response to Ph. capsici infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Microbe Interactions)
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14 pages, 4802 KiB  
Article
Plant Roots Release Small Extracellular Vesicles with Antifungal Activity
by Monica De Palma, Alfredo Ambrosone, Antonietta Leone, Pasquale Del Gaudio, Michelina Ruocco, Lilla Turiák, Ramesh Bokka, Immacolata Fiume, Marina Tucci and Gabriella Pocsfalvi
Plants 2020, 9(12), 1777; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9121777 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 6414
Abstract
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) play pivotal roles in cell-to-cell and inter-kingdom communication. Despite their relevant biological implications, the existence and role of plant EVs released into the environment has been unexplored. Herein, we purified round-shaped small vesicles (EVs) by differential ultracentrifugation of a sampling [...] Read more.
Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) play pivotal roles in cell-to-cell and inter-kingdom communication. Despite their relevant biological implications, the existence and role of plant EVs released into the environment has been unexplored. Herein, we purified round-shaped small vesicles (EVs) by differential ultracentrifugation of a sampling solution containing root exudates of hydroponically grown tomato plants. Biophysical analyses, by means of dynamic light scattering, microfluidic resistive pulse sensing and scanning electron microscopy, showed that the size of root-released EVs range in the nanometric scale (50–100 nm). Shot-gun proteomics of tomato EVs identified 179 unique proteins, several of which are known to be involved in plant-microbe interactions. In addition, the application of root-released EVs induced a significant inhibition of spore germination and of germination tube development of the plant pathogens Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata. Interestingly, these EVs contain several proteins involved in plant defense, suggesting that they could be new components of the plant innate immune system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Microbe Interactions)
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16 pages, 1477 KiB  
Article
Influence of Citrus Scion/Rootstock Genotypes on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Community Composition under Controlled Environment Condition
by Fang Song, Fuxi Bai, Juanjuan Wang, Liming Wu, Yingchun Jiang and Zhiyong Pan
Plants 2020, 9(7), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070901 - 16 Jul 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2946
Abstract
Citrus is vegetatively propagated by grafting for commercial production, and most rootstock cultivars of citrus have scarce root hairs, thus heavily relying on mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for mineral nutrient uptake. However, the AMF community composition, and its differences under [...] Read more.
Citrus is vegetatively propagated by grafting for commercial production, and most rootstock cultivars of citrus have scarce root hairs, thus heavily relying on mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for mineral nutrient uptake. However, the AMF community composition, and its differences under different citrus scion/rootstock genotypes, were largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the citrus root-associated AMF diversity and richness, and assessed the influence of citrus scion/rootstock genotypes on the AMF community composition in a controlled condition, in order to exclude interferences from environmental factors and agricultural practices. As a result, a total of 613,408 Glomeromycota tags were detected in the citrus roots, and 46 AMF species were annotated against the MAARJAM database. Of these, 39 species belonged to Glomus, indicating a dominant role of the Glomus AMF in the symbiosis with citrus. PCoA analysis indicated that the AMF community’s composition was significantly impacted by both citrus scion and rootstock genotypes, but total samples were clustered according to rootstock genotype rather than scion genotype. In addition, AMF α diversity was significantly affected merely by rootstock genotype. Thus, rootstock genotype might exert a greater impact on the AMF community than scion genotype. Taken together, this study provides a comprehensive insight into the AMF community in juvenile citrus plants, and reveals the important effects of citrus genotype on AMF community composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Microbe Interactions)
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18 pages, 1398 KiB  
Article
Differential Response of Tomato Plants to the Application of Three Trichoderma Species When Evaluating the Control of Pseudomonas syringae Populations
by María E. Morán-Diez, Eduardo Tranque, Wagner Bettiol, Enrique Monte and Rosa Hermosa
Plants 2020, 9(5), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9050626 - 14 May 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4190
Abstract
Trichoderma species are well known biocontrol agents that are able to induce responses in the host plants against an array of abiotic and biotic stresses. Here, we investigate, when applied to tomato seeds, the potential of Trichoderma strains belonging to three different species, [...] Read more.
Trichoderma species are well known biocontrol agents that are able to induce responses in the host plants against an array of abiotic and biotic stresses. Here, we investigate, when applied to tomato seeds, the potential of Trichoderma strains belonging to three different species, T. parareesei T6, T. asperellum T25, and T. harzianum T34, to control the fully pathogenic strain Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000, able to produce the coronatine (COR) toxin, and the COR-deficient strain Pst DC3118 in tomato plants, and the molecular mechanisms by which the plant can modulate its systemic defense. Four-week old tomato plants, seed-inoculated, or not, with a Trichoderma strain, were infected, or not, with a Pst strain, and the changes in the expression of nine marker genes representative of salicylic acid (SA) (ICS1 and PAL5) and jasmonic acid (JA) (TomLoxC) biosynthesis, SA- (PR1b1), JA- (PINII and MYC2) and JA/Ethylene (ET)-dependent (ERF-A2) defense pathways, as well as the abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive gene AREB2 and the respiratory burst oxidase gene LERBOH1, were analyzed at 72 hours post-inoculation (hpi) with the bacteria. The significant increase obtained for bacterial population sizes in the leaves, disease index, and the upregulation of tomato genes related to SA, JA, ET and ABA in plants inoculated with Pst DC3000 compared with those obtained with Pst DC3118, confirmed the COR role as a virulence factor, and showed that both Pst and COR synergistically activate the JA- and SA-signaling defense responses, at least at 72 hpi. The three Trichoderma strains tested reduced the DC3118 levels to different extents and were able to control disease symptoms at the same rate. However, a minor protection (9.4%) against DC3000 was only achieved with T. asperellum T25. The gene deregulation detected in Trichoderma-treated plus Pst-inoculated tomato plants illustrates the complex system of a phytohormone-mediated signaling network that is affected by the pathogen and Trichoderma applications but also by their interaction. The expression changes for all nine genes analyzed, excepting LERBOH1, as well as the bacterial populations in the leaves were significantly affected by the interaction. Our results show that Trichoderma spp. are not adequate to control the disease caused by fully pathogenic Pst strains in tomato plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Microbe Interactions)
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Review

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18 pages, 823 KiB  
Review
Ecological Dynamics and Microbial Treatments against Oomycete Plant Pathogens
by Karen E. Sullam and Tomke Musa
Plants 2021, 10(12), 2697; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122697 - 08 Dec 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2952
Abstract
In this review, we explore how ecological concepts may help assist with applying microbial biocontrol agents to oomycete pathogens. Oomycetes cause a variety of agricultural diseases, including potato late blight, apple replant diseases, and downy mildew of grapevine, which also can lead to [...] Read more.
In this review, we explore how ecological concepts may help assist with applying microbial biocontrol agents to oomycete pathogens. Oomycetes cause a variety of agricultural diseases, including potato late blight, apple replant diseases, and downy mildew of grapevine, which also can lead to significant economic damage in their respective crops. The use of microbial biocontrol agents is increasingly gaining interest due to pressure from governments and society to reduce chemical plant protection products. The success of a biocontrol agent is dependent on many ecological processes, including the establishment on the host, persistence in the environment, and expression of traits that may be dependent on the microbiome. This review examines recent literature and trends in research that incorporate ecological aspects, especially microbiome, host, and environmental interactions, into biological control development and applications. We explore ecological factors that may influence microbial biocontrol agents’ efficacy and discuss key research avenues forward. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Microbe Interactions)
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