Diversity and composition of soil microbial communities in the rhizospheres of late blight-resistant tomatoes after Phytophthora infestans inoculation

Late blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans poses a severe threat to global tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production. While genetic resistance forms the cornerstone of disease control, the mechanisms underlying cultivar-specific resistance, particularly their interactions with rhizo...

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Main Authors: Xinyan Zhou, Liyuan Liao, Ken Chen, Yan Yin, Lulu Qiu, Xinni Li, Qingshan Li, Shangdong Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1556928/full
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author Xinyan Zhou
Liyuan Liao
Ken Chen
Yan Yin
Lulu Qiu
Xinni Li
Qingshan Li
Shangdong Yang
author_facet Xinyan Zhou
Liyuan Liao
Ken Chen
Yan Yin
Lulu Qiu
Xinni Li
Qingshan Li
Shangdong Yang
author_sort Xinyan Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Late blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans poses a severe threat to global tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production. While genetic resistance forms the cornerstone of disease control, the mechanisms underlying cultivar-specific resistance, particularly their interactions with rhizosphere microbiomes, remain poorly understood. To elucidate the mechanisms of tomato cultivar resistance to late blight and screen out antagonistic microorganisms against P. infestans, we investigated the microbial compositions in the rhizospheres of tomato cultivars with different late blight-resistance levels under both natural and P. infestans-inoculated conditions. Considerable differences in soil microbial diversity and composition of rhizospheres were found between late blight-resistant and -susceptible tomato cultivars. Under natural conditions, the resistant tomato cultivar exhibited higher bacterial diversity and lower fungal diversity than that of the susceptible cultivar. Additionally, after P. infestans inoculation, both the resistant and susceptible cultivars showed enrichment of microorganisms with potential antagonistic effects in the rhizospheres. Among them, bacterial genera, such as Pseudomonas, Azospirillum, and Acidovorax, and fungal genera, including Phoma, Arthrobotrys, Pseudallescheria, and Pseudolabrys, were enriched in the rhizospheres of the late blight-resistant tomato cultivar. In contrast, bacterial genera, including Flavobacterium, Pseudolabrys, and Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, and the Trichoderma fungal genus were enriched in the rhizospheres of the late blight-susceptible tomato cultivar. Simultaneously, the enrichment of pathogenic microorganisms, such as Neocosmospora and Plectosphaerella, was also detected in the rhizospheres of the susceptible tomato cultivar. Moreover, no enrichment of pathogenic microorganisms occurred in the late blight-resistant tomato cultivar after P. infestans inoculation. These findings suggest that these traits serve as effective defense mechanisms against pathogen invasion in resistant tomato cultivar. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the rhizosphere microbial community structures in late blight-resistant and -susceptible tomato cultivars under natural conditions and their response following pathogen inoculation. Additionally, potential antagonistic microorganisms against late blight were also identified. The findings offer valuable insights for effective late blight management in tomatoes and contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural practices.
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spelling doaj-art-541c301e133b467f9bddbb042b2da3892025-08-20T02:58:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-03-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15569281556928Diversity and composition of soil microbial communities in the rhizospheres of late blight-resistant tomatoes after Phytophthora infestans inoculationXinyan ZhouLiyuan LiaoKen ChenYan YinLulu QiuXinni LiQingshan LiShangdong YangLate blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans poses a severe threat to global tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production. While genetic resistance forms the cornerstone of disease control, the mechanisms underlying cultivar-specific resistance, particularly their interactions with rhizosphere microbiomes, remain poorly understood. To elucidate the mechanisms of tomato cultivar resistance to late blight and screen out antagonistic microorganisms against P. infestans, we investigated the microbial compositions in the rhizospheres of tomato cultivars with different late blight-resistance levels under both natural and P. infestans-inoculated conditions. Considerable differences in soil microbial diversity and composition of rhizospheres were found between late blight-resistant and -susceptible tomato cultivars. Under natural conditions, the resistant tomato cultivar exhibited higher bacterial diversity and lower fungal diversity than that of the susceptible cultivar. Additionally, after P. infestans inoculation, both the resistant and susceptible cultivars showed enrichment of microorganisms with potential antagonistic effects in the rhizospheres. Among them, bacterial genera, such as Pseudomonas, Azospirillum, and Acidovorax, and fungal genera, including Phoma, Arthrobotrys, Pseudallescheria, and Pseudolabrys, were enriched in the rhizospheres of the late blight-resistant tomato cultivar. In contrast, bacterial genera, including Flavobacterium, Pseudolabrys, and Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, and the Trichoderma fungal genus were enriched in the rhizospheres of the late blight-susceptible tomato cultivar. Simultaneously, the enrichment of pathogenic microorganisms, such as Neocosmospora and Plectosphaerella, was also detected in the rhizospheres of the susceptible tomato cultivar. Moreover, no enrichment of pathogenic microorganisms occurred in the late blight-resistant tomato cultivar after P. infestans inoculation. These findings suggest that these traits serve as effective defense mechanisms against pathogen invasion in resistant tomato cultivar. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the rhizosphere microbial community structures in late blight-resistant and -susceptible tomato cultivars under natural conditions and their response following pathogen inoculation. Additionally, potential antagonistic microorganisms against late blight were also identified. The findings offer valuable insights for effective late blight management in tomatoes and contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural practices.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1556928/fulltomatoSolanum lycopersicum L.late blightsoil microbial community structurerhizosphereantagonistic microorganisms
spellingShingle Xinyan Zhou
Liyuan Liao
Ken Chen
Yan Yin
Lulu Qiu
Xinni Li
Qingshan Li
Shangdong Yang
Diversity and composition of soil microbial communities in the rhizospheres of late blight-resistant tomatoes after Phytophthora infestans inoculation
Frontiers in Plant Science
tomato
Solanum lycopersicum L.
late blight
soil microbial community structure
rhizosphere
antagonistic microorganisms
title Diversity and composition of soil microbial communities in the rhizospheres of late blight-resistant tomatoes after Phytophthora infestans inoculation
title_full Diversity and composition of soil microbial communities in the rhizospheres of late blight-resistant tomatoes after Phytophthora infestans inoculation
title_fullStr Diversity and composition of soil microbial communities in the rhizospheres of late blight-resistant tomatoes after Phytophthora infestans inoculation
title_full_unstemmed Diversity and composition of soil microbial communities in the rhizospheres of late blight-resistant tomatoes after Phytophthora infestans inoculation
title_short Diversity and composition of soil microbial communities in the rhizospheres of late blight-resistant tomatoes after Phytophthora infestans inoculation
title_sort diversity and composition of soil microbial communities in the rhizospheres of late blight resistant tomatoes after phytophthora infestans inoculation
topic tomato
Solanum lycopersicum L.
late blight
soil microbial community structure
rhizosphere
antagonistic microorganisms
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1556928/full
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