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Abstract
Wheat is a critically important crop. The application of fungi, such as Trichoderma harzianum, to protect and improve crop yields could become an alternative solution to synthetic chemicals. However, the interaction between the fungus and wheat in the presence of stress factors at the molecular level has not been fully elucidated. In the present work, we exposed germinating seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to the plant pathogen Fusarium culmorum and the popular herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in the presence of T. harzianum or its extracellular metabolites. Then, the harvested roots and shoots were analyzed using spectrometry, 2D-PAGE, and MALDI-TOF/MS techniques. Although F. culmorum and 2,4-D were found to disturb seed germination and the chlorophyll content, T. harzianum partly alleviated these negative effects and reduced the synthesis of zearalenone by F. culmorum. Moreover, T. harzianum decreased the activity of oxidoreduction enzymes (CAT and SOD) and the contents of the oxylipins 9-Hode, 13-Hode, and 13-Hotre induced by stress factors. Under the influence of various growth conditions, changes were observed in over 40 proteins from the wheat roots. Higher volumes of proteins and enzymes performing oxidoreductive functions, such as catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, cytochrome C peroxidase, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, were found in the Fusarium-inoculated and 2,4-D-treated wheat roots. Additionally, observation of the level of 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase involved in the oxylipin signaling pathway in wheat showed an increase. Trichoderma and its metabolites present in the system leveled out the mentioned proteins to the control volumes. Among the 30 proteins examined in the shoots, the expression of the proteins involved in photosynthesis and oxidative stress response was found to be induced in the presence of the herbicide and the pathogen. In summary, these proteomic and metabolomic studies confirmed that the presence of T. harzianum results in the alleviation of oxidative stress in wheat induced by 2,4-D or F. culmorum.
Highlights
Introduction iationsNowadays, crops are exposed to numerous stress factors—natural ones, caused by the presence of pests and synthetic ones, related to the use of protective agents such as pesticides
To analyze how Trichoderma metabolites might act in a combined system of biological and chemical stress factors, Trichoderma metabolites extracts as well as T. harzianum fungus were used in the experiments
This work was focused on the examination of how T. harzianum and its bioactive metabolites might influence germinated wheat defense against chemical stress (2,4-D) and biological infection (F. culmorum)
Summary
Crops are exposed to numerous stress factors—natural ones, caused by the presence of pests and synthetic ones, related to the use of protective agents such as pesticides. One of the important problems of agriculture worldwide are soil borne diseases. The presence of pathogens and chemical stressors may affect the quality of crops and cause economic losses. Biological control agents (BCAs) with reduced environmental impact have become an alternative to synthetic pesticides [1]. The innovative method of using bacteria and fungi to induce plant resistance to abiotic stress has been actively studied in recent years [2]. Trichoderma spp. are soil-inhabiting filamentous fungi, including species with antagonistic activity against plant pathogens, such as Pythium spp., Fusarium spp., and others
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