Publication Type
Journal Article
Journal Name
Scientific Reports
Publication Date
12-1-2024
Abstract
Endophytic fungal-based biopesticides are sustainable and ecologically-friendly biocontrol agents of several pests and diseases. However, their potential in managing tomato fusarium wilt disease (FWD) remains unexploited. This study therefore evaluated effectiveness of nine fungal isolates against tomato fusarium wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) in vitro using dual culture and co-culture assays. The efficacy of three potent endophytes that inhibited the pathogen in vitro was assessed against FWD incidence, severity, and ability to enhance growth and yield of tomatoes in planta. The ability of endophytically-colonized tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants to systemically defend themselves upon exposure to FOL were also assessed through defence genes expression using qPCR. In vitro assays showed that endophytes inhibited and suppressed FOL mycelial growth better than entomopathogenic fungi (EPF). Endophytes Trichoderma asperellum M2RT4, Hypocrea lixii F3ST1, Trichoderma harzianum KF2R41, and Trichoderma atroviride ICIPE 710 had the highest (68.84–99.61%) suppression and FOL radial growth inhibition rates compared to EPF which exhibited lowest (27.05–40.63%) inhibition rates. Endophytes T. asperellum M2RT4, H. lixii F3ST1 and T. harzianum KF2R41 colonized all tomato plant parts. During the in planta experiment, endophytically-colonized and FOL-infected tomato plants showed significant reduction of FWD incidence and severity compared to non-inoculated plants. In addition, these endophytes contributed to improved growth promotion parameters and yield. Moreover, there was significantly higher expression of tomato defence genes in T. asperellum M2RT4 colonized than in un-inoculated tomato plants. These findings demonstrated that H. lixii F3ST1 and T. asperellum M2RT4 are effective biocontrol agents against FWD and could sustainably mitigate tomato yield losses associated with fusarium wilt.
Keywords
Defence genes expression, Endophyte, Fusarium wilt, Growth inhibition, Phytopathogen suppression
PubMed ID
38965302
Funding Statement
This work received financial support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) (B2329A-FCDO-FAW and B2291A-FCDO-BIOPESTICIDE) through the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe). The authors gratefully acknowledge the icipe core funding provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR); the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad); the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); and the Government of the Republic of Kenya. The first author was also supported through the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) of the East African Community (EAC) Scholarship Programme. We are also thankful to Wafula Sospeter, Jane Kimemia and Levi Ombura for their technical assistance. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the donors.
Recommended Citation
Muhorakeye, M., Namikoye, E., Khamis, F., Wanjohi, W., & Akutse, K. (2024). Biostimulant and antagonistic potential of endophytic fungi against fusarium wilt pathogen of tomato Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Scientific Reports, 14 (1) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66101-1