Beneficial Rhizobacterium Triggers Induced Systemic Resistance of Maize to Gibberella Stalk Rot via Calcium Signaling

Yu Cao; Yinying Wang; Cuilin Gui; Kilemi Jessee Nguvo; Liang Ma; Qing Wang; Qirong Shen; Ruifu Zhang; Xiquan Gao

doi:10.1094/MPMI-08-22-0173-R

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (Aug 2023)

Beneficial Rhizobacterium Triggers Induced Systemic Resistance of Maize to Gibberella Stalk Rot via Calcium Signaling

Yu Cao,
Yinying Wang,
Cuilin Gui,
Kilemi Jessee Nguvo,
Liang Ma,
Qing Wang,
Qirong Shen,
Ruifu Zhang,
Xiquan Gao

Affiliations

Yu Cao: State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210095, P.R. China
Yinying Wang: State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210095, P.R. China
Cuilin Gui: State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210095, P.R. China
Kilemi Jessee Nguvo: State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210095, P.R. China
Liang Ma: State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210095, P.R. China
Qing Wang: State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210095, P.R. China
Qirong Shen: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210095, P.R. China
Ruifu Zhang: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210095, P.R. China
Xiquan Gao: State Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210095, P.R. China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-08-22-0173-R
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 36, no. 8
pp. 516 – 528

Abstract

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Gibberella stalk rot (GSR) caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum is a devastating disease of maize (Zea mays L.), but we lack efficient methods to control this disease. Biological control agents, including beneficial microorganisms, can be used as an effective and eco-friendly approach to manage crop diseases. For example, Bacillus velezensis SQR9, a bacterial strain isolated from the rhizosphere of cucumber plants, promotes growth and suppresses diseases in several plant species. However, it is not known whether and how SQR9 affects maize resistance to GSR. In this study, we found that treatment with SQR9 increased maize resistance to GSR by activating maize induced systemic resistance (ISR). RNA-seq and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, and plant-pathogen interaction pathways were enriched in the root upon colonization by SQR9. Also, several genes associated with calcium signaling pathways were up-regulated by SQR9 treatment. However, the calcium signaling inhibitor LaCl3 weakened the SQR9-activated ISR. Our data suggest that the calcium signaling pathway contributes to maize GSR resistance via the activation of ISR induced by SQR9. [Graphic: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Published in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions

ISSN: 0894-0282 (Print); 1943-7706 (Online)
Publisher: The American Phytopathological Society
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology; Science: Botany
Website: https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/journal/mpmi

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