Microbial Consortia for Effective Biocontrol of Root and Foliar Diseases in Tomato
The use of beneficial microorganisms for the biological control of plant diseases and pests has emerged as a viable alternative to chemical pesticides in agriculture. Traditionally, microbe-based biocontrol strategies for crop protection relied on the application of single microorganisms. However, t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.756368/full |
| _version_ | 1818982125324468224 |
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| author | Zhivko Minchev Olga Kostenko Roxina Soler María J. Pozo |
| author_facet | Zhivko Minchev Olga Kostenko Roxina Soler María J. Pozo |
| author_sort | Zhivko Minchev |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of beneficial microorganisms for the biological control of plant diseases and pests has emerged as a viable alternative to chemical pesticides in agriculture. Traditionally, microbe-based biocontrol strategies for crop protection relied on the application of single microorganisms. However, the design of microbial consortia for improving the reliability of current biological control practices is now a major trend in biotechnology, and it is already being exploited commercially in the context of sustainable agriculture. In the present study, exploiting the microbial library of the biocontrol company Koppert Biological Systems, we designed microbial consortia composed of carefully selected, well-characterized beneficial bacteria and fungi displaying diverse biocontrol modes of action. We compared their ability to control shoot and root pathogens when applied separately or in combination as microbial consortia, and across different application strategies that imply direct microbial antagonism or induced systemic plant resistance. We hypothesized that consortia will be more versatile than the single strains, displaying an extended functionality, as they will be able to control a wider range of plant diseases through diverse mechanisms and application methods. Our results confirmed our hypothesis, revealing that while different individual microorganisms were the most effective in controlling the root pathogen Fusarium oxysporum or the foliar pathogen Botrytis cinerea in tomato, the consortia showed an extended functionality, effectively controlling both pathogens under any of the application schemes, always reaching the same protection levels as the best performing single strains. Our findings illustrate the potential of microbial consortia, composed of carefully selected and compatible beneficial microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, for the development of stable and versatile biological control products for plant protection against a wider range of diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:42:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8351b3c6a61c47a284c9d5d7eba50a3a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:42:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-8351b3c6a61c47a284c9d5d7eba50a3a2022-12-21T19:31:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2021-11-011210.3389/fpls.2021.756368756368Microbial Consortia for Effective Biocontrol of Root and Foliar Diseases in TomatoZhivko Minchev0Olga Kostenko1Roxina Soler2María J. Pozo3Business Unit Microbiology, Agronomical Development Department, Koppert Biological Systems, Berkel en Rodenrijs, NetherlandsBusiness Unit Microbiology, Agronomical Development Department, Koppert Biological Systems, Berkel en Rodenrijs, NetherlandsBusiness Unit Microbiology, Agronomical Development Department, Koppert Biological Systems, Berkel en Rodenrijs, NetherlandsDepartment of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, Granada, SpainThe use of beneficial microorganisms for the biological control of plant diseases and pests has emerged as a viable alternative to chemical pesticides in agriculture. Traditionally, microbe-based biocontrol strategies for crop protection relied on the application of single microorganisms. However, the design of microbial consortia for improving the reliability of current biological control practices is now a major trend in biotechnology, and it is already being exploited commercially in the context of sustainable agriculture. In the present study, exploiting the microbial library of the biocontrol company Koppert Biological Systems, we designed microbial consortia composed of carefully selected, well-characterized beneficial bacteria and fungi displaying diverse biocontrol modes of action. We compared their ability to control shoot and root pathogens when applied separately or in combination as microbial consortia, and across different application strategies that imply direct microbial antagonism or induced systemic plant resistance. We hypothesized that consortia will be more versatile than the single strains, displaying an extended functionality, as they will be able to control a wider range of plant diseases through diverse mechanisms and application methods. Our results confirmed our hypothesis, revealing that while different individual microorganisms were the most effective in controlling the root pathogen Fusarium oxysporum or the foliar pathogen Botrytis cinerea in tomato, the consortia showed an extended functionality, effectively controlling both pathogens under any of the application schemes, always reaching the same protection levels as the best performing single strains. Our findings illustrate the potential of microbial consortia, composed of carefully selected and compatible beneficial microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, for the development of stable and versatile biological control products for plant protection against a wider range of diseases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.756368/fullarbuscular mycorrhizabiocontroldisease suppressionmicrobial consortiaSynComTrichoderma |
| spellingShingle | Zhivko Minchev Olga Kostenko Roxina Soler María J. Pozo Microbial Consortia for Effective Biocontrol of Root and Foliar Diseases in Tomato Frontiers in Plant Science arbuscular mycorrhiza biocontrol disease suppression microbial consortia SynCom Trichoderma |
| title | Microbial Consortia for Effective Biocontrol of Root and Foliar Diseases in Tomato |
| title_full | Microbial Consortia for Effective Biocontrol of Root and Foliar Diseases in Tomato |
| title_fullStr | Microbial Consortia for Effective Biocontrol of Root and Foliar Diseases in Tomato |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial Consortia for Effective Biocontrol of Root and Foliar Diseases in Tomato |
| title_short | Microbial Consortia for Effective Biocontrol of Root and Foliar Diseases in Tomato |
| title_sort | microbial consortia for effective biocontrol of root and foliar diseases in tomato |
| topic | arbuscular mycorrhiza biocontrol disease suppression microbial consortia SynCom Trichoderma |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.756368/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhivkominchev microbialconsortiaforeffectivebiocontrolofrootandfoliardiseasesintomato AT olgakostenko microbialconsortiaforeffectivebiocontrolofrootandfoliardiseasesintomato AT roxinasoler microbialconsortiaforeffectivebiocontrolofrootandfoliardiseasesintomato AT mariajpozo microbialconsortiaforeffectivebiocontrolofrootandfoliardiseasesintomato |