Abstract
This study reports a strain of <i>Trichoderma harzianum</i> CCTCC-SBW0162 with potential to enhance biocontrol activity against gray mold pathogen, <i>Botrytis cinerea</i>, and with a pivotal role in tomato (<i>Solanum esculentum</i>) plant growth enhancement. A total of 254 <i>Trichoderma</i> isolates were screened by <i>in vitro</i> antagonistic assay. Of these, 10 were selected for greenhouse experiments based on their greater inhibition of <i>B. cinerea</i>. The <i>in vitro</i> antagonistic assay and greenhouse experiments indicated that <i>T. harzianum</i> CCTCC-SBW0162 gave the highest inhibition rate (90.6%) and disease reduction (80.7%). Also, to study the possible mechanism associated with antifungal activity of CCTCC-SBW0162 against <i>B. cinerea</i>, molecular docking was used to assess the interactions between CCTCC-SBW0162-derived metabolites, and pathogencity and virulence related proteins of <i>B. cinerea</i>. The molecular docking results indicated that the combination of harzianopyridone, harzianolide and anthraquinone C derived from CCTCC-SBW0162 could synergistically improve antifungal activity against <i>B. cinerea</i> through the inhibition/modification of pathogenicity and virulence related proteins. However, this computerized modeling work emphasized the need for further study in the laboratory to confirm the effect <i>T. harzianum-</i>derived metabolites against the proteins of <i>B. cinerea</i> and their interactions.
Highlights
Solanum esculentum, technically a fruit, is one of the most economically important vegetable fruit cultivated worldwide
The genome of B. cinerea exhibits over 100 putative GPI proteins and these cell wall glycoproteins are involved in pathogencity, virulence and host interaction of B. cinerea[21,22]
One of the findings indicated that bcpmr1 encoded a P-type Ca2+/Mn2+-ATPase involved in protein glycosylation, cell wall structure and virulence of B. cinerea[30]
Summary
Technically a fruit, is one of the most economically important vegetable fruit cultivated worldwide. The fungal cell wall is essential for the penetration, colonization and infection of the plant tissues[19] and the fungal cell wall proteins (glycoproteins) are involved in the host-pathogen interactions, virulence and pathogencity[20,21]. The genome of B. cinerea exhibits over 100 putative GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol) proteins and these cell wall glycoproteins are involved in pathogencity, virulence and host interaction of B. cinerea[21,22]. One of the findings indicated that bcpmr encoded a P-type Ca2+/Mn2+-ATPase involved in protein glycosylation, cell wall structure and virulence of B. cinerea[30]. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of T. harzianum and its metabolites on plant growth and enhanced biocontrol of B. cinerea through the modification/inhibition of the pathogenicity and virulence related proteins (bcpmr encoding a P-type Ca2+/Mn2+-ATPase, BcMctA) of B. cinerea
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