Role of Volatiles from the Endophytic Fungus Trichoderma asperelloides PSU-P1 in Biocontrol Potential and in Promoting the Plant Growth of Arabidopsis thaliana

• Published in: Journal of fungi (Basel) 2020-12, Vol.6 (4), p.341
• Main Authors: Phoka, Nongnat, Suwannarach, Nakarin, Lumyong, Saisamorn, Ito, Shin-Ichi, Matsui, Kenji, Arikit, Siwaret, Sunpapao, Anurag
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Antifungal activity; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis thaliana; Bioassays; biocontrol agent; Biological control; Butanol; Cell culture; Cell walls; Chitinase; Chlorophyll; Endophytes; Enzymes; Fungi; Gas chromatography; Gene expression; Headspace; Host plants; Mass spectroscopy; Metabolites; Microorganisms; Organic compounds; Pathogens; Peroxidase; Plant diseases; Plant growth; Polymerase chain reaction; Reverse transcription; Seeds; Solid phase methods; Trichoderma; VOCs; volatile compounds; Volatile organic compounds; Volatiles
• ISSN: 2309-608X; 2309-608X
• DOI: 10.3390/jof6040341

Fungal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by species interact with a plant host and display multifaceted mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the antifungal activity of VOCs emitted by PSU-P1 against fungal pathogens, as well as the ability of VOCs to activate defense responses and to promote plant growth in . The strain's VOCs had remarkable antifungal activity against fungal pathogens, with an inhibition range of 15.92-84.95% in a volatile antifungal bioassay. The VOCs of PSU-P1 promoted the plant growth of , thereby increasing the fresh weight, root length, and chlorophyll content in the VOC-treated relative to those of the control. High expression levels of the chitinase ( ) and β-1,3-glucanase ( ) genes were found in the VOC-treated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The VOC-treated had higher defense-related enzyme (peroxidase ( )) and cell wall-degrading enzyme (chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase) activity than in the control. The headspace VOCs produced by PSU-P1, trapped with solid phase microextraction, and tentatively identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, included 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2-pentylfuran, acetic acid, and 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one (6-PP). The results suggest that PSU-P1 emits VOCs responsible for antifungal activity, for promoting plant growth, and for inducing defense responses in .