Efficacy of Trichoderma asperellum TC01 against anthracnose and growth promotion of Camellia sinensis seedlings
Abstract
Tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is a perennial evergreen woody plant that is economic importance worldwide. Its health functions and distinctive taste depend on the production of secondary metabolites, which are affected by biotic and abiotic stresses. Biological control is considered a feasible alternative to chemical control as well as an eco-friendly method for controlling pathogens. In this study, we investigated the role of Trichoderma asperellum TC01 in the regulation of C. sinensis growth and the activation of defence responses against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides C62 by developing a biocontrol-plant-pathogen interaction system. When C. sinensis was co-cultivated with T. asperellum TC01, it was able to reduce 58.37% of disease severity compared with other treatments. Furthermore, compared with control plant growth, T. asperellum TC01-treated plants showed an increase in shoot height (7.5%), stem diameter (34.09%), shoot fresh weight (81.18%), root fresh weight (93.75%), shoot dry weight (85.71%) and root dry weight (115.38%) at 45 days after inoculation under greenhouse conditions. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that 48 h after inoculation, key genes were up-regulated in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway of TC01-treated plants (T4) and down-regulated in leaves of C. gloeosporioides C62-treated plants compared with that of the control plants, indicating that TC01 triggers flavonoid and phenylpropanoid pathways during the early stages of the interaction with C. sinensis. Furthermore, higher expression levels of genes associated with the jasmonic acid and ethylene signalling pathway in the roots of TC01- and C62-treated plants (T3) than in either TC01- or C62-treated plants, indicated that TC01 triggered the induced systemic response in C. sinensis. Genes involved in the flavonoid, phenylpropanoid, jasmonic acid and ethylene play an important role in the resisitance against anthracnose. These results indicate induction of defense mechanisms by TC01 is potentially a powerful approach for controlling Camellia sinensis disease, which may provide a management opportunity for the sustainable use of TC01 treatments in tea plantations.
- Publication:
-
Biological Control
- Pub Date:
- April 2020
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2020.104205
- Bibcode:
- 2020BiolC.14304205S
- Keywords:
-
- Tea plantation;
- Trichoderma asperellum TC01;
- Colletotrichum gloeosporioides C62;
- Plant defense;
- Tourism disturbance areas