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Exploring Trichoderma diversity in the Western Ghats of India: phylogenetic analysis, metabolomics insights and biocontrol efficacy against Maydis Leaf Blight disease

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The Western Ghats of India is recognized as one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity. Trichoderma —a well-known biocontrol agent, was explored from this hotspot. A total of 260 Trichoderma spp. isolates were studied, with 9% exhibiting strong biocontrol potential and crop growth-promoting activity. Furthermore, this study identified three novel isolates— Trichoderma caribbaeum var. caribbaeum , Trichoderma lixii , and Trichoderma brevicompactum —which are reported for the first time from the Western Ghats making a significant contribution to the field. Based on internal transcribed spacer ribosomal RNA (ITS-rRNA) and translation elongation factor 1- α (tef-1α) gene sequence analysis, molecular characterization, identified major isolates as Trichoderma koningiopsis , Trichoderma asperellum , T . caribbaeum var. caribbaeum , T . lixii , T . brevicompactum , Trichoderma atroviride , and Trichoderma erinaceum . Seed biopriming with the effective Trichoderma strain TR11 reduced the maydis leaf blight (MLB) disease index to 32.92% and improved plant growth-promoting attributes in maize. Defensive enzyme activities were increased 2.5–4.2-fold in various treatments with the TR11 isolate, along with enhanced lignification postpathogen inoculation, indicating strengthened plant defense mechanisms. The promising strain T. brevicompactum -TR11 produces secondary metabolites; among them, 5% were found to have a role in biocontrol activity such as octadecanoic acid, palmitic acid-TMS, 5-(4-nitrophenoxymethyl), furane-2-carboxaldehyde, and stearic acid-TMS, phosphoric acid-3TMS, galactopyranose, 5TMS. This study explored Trichoderma diversity in the Western Ghats of India with phylogenetic relationship, metabolomics insights, and biocontrol efficacy against MLB disease.

Source: Frontiers in Microbiology

DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1493272

Authors: Nazia Manzar, Abhijeet Shankar Kashyap, Manish Roy, Pawan Kumar Sharma, Alok Kumar Srivastava

Institutions: National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Language: English

Topic: Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,295