Fate of Trichoderma harzianum in the olive rhizosphere: time course of the root colonization process and interaction with the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae

Trichoderma harzianum Rifai is a well-known biological control agent (BCA) effective against a wide range of phytopathogens. Since colonization and persistence in the target niche is crucial for biocontrol effectiveness we aimed to: (i) shed light on the olive roots colonization process by T. harzia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BioControl (Dordrecht, Netherlands) Netherlands), 2016-06, Vol.61 (3), p.269-282
Main Authors: Ruano-Rosa, David, Prieto, Pilar, Rincón, Ana María, Gómez-Rodríguez, María Victoria, Valderrama, Raquel, Barroso, Juan Bautista, Mercado-Blanco, Jesús
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
Animal Biochemistry
Animal Ecology
Behavioral Sciences
Biological control
Biomass
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Chlamydospores
Coiling
Colonization
Confocal microscopy
Crop diseases
Entomology
Fungi
Lasers
Life Sciences
Microscopy
Olea
Pathogens
Plant growth
Plant Pathology
Rhizoplane
Rhizosphere
Roots
Scanning microscopy
Trichoderma harzianum
Verticillium
Verticillium dahliae
Verticillium wilt
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Summary:Trichoderma harzianum Rifai is a well-known biological control agent (BCA) effective against a wide range of phytopathogens. Since colonization and persistence in the target niche is crucial for biocontrol effectiveness we aimed to: (i) shed light on the olive roots colonization process by T. harzianum CECT 2413, (ii) unravel the fate of its biomass upon application, and (iii) study the in planta interaction with the soil-borne pathogen Verticillium dahliae Kleb. Fluorescently-tagged derivatives of CECT 2413 and V. dahliae and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used. In vitro assays showed for the first time mycoparasitism of V. dahliae by T. harzianum, evidenced by events such as hyphal coiling. In planta assays revealed that CECT 2413 profusely colonized the rhizoplane of olive roots. Interestingly, biomass of the BCA was visualized mainly as chlamydospores. This observation was independent on the presence or absence of the pathogen. Evidence of inner colonization of olive roots by CECT 2413 was not obtained. These results suggest that CECT 2413 is not able to persist in a metabolically-active form when applied as a spore suspension. This may have strong implications in the way this BCA should be introduced and/or formulated to be effective against Verticillium wilt of olive.
ISSN:1386-6141
1573-8248
DOI:10.1007/s10526-015-9706-z