The plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum T22 modulates plant metabolism and negatively affects Nezara viridula
Abstract Background Plant-beneficial fungi play an important role in enhancing plant health and resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. Although extensive research has focused on their role in eliciting plant defences against pathogens, their contribution to induced resistance against herbiv...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06650-3 |
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| author | Sara Van Hee Alejandro E. Segurado Luchsinger Antonino Cusumano Joleen Masschelein Hans Jacquemyn Bart Lievens |
| author_facet | Sara Van Hee Alejandro E. Segurado Luchsinger Antonino Cusumano Joleen Masschelein Hans Jacquemyn Bart Lievens |
| author_sort | Sara Van Hee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Plant-beneficial fungi play an important role in enhancing plant health and resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. Although extensive research has focused on their role in eliciting plant defences against pathogens, their contribution to induced resistance against herbivorous insects and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we used insect bioassays and untargeted metabolomics to investigate the impact of root inoculation of sweet pepper with the plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum T22 on direct defence responses against the insect herbivore Nezara viridula. Results We observed reduced relative growth rate of N. viridula on leaves of fungus-inoculated plants, with no change in mortality. Untargeted metabolomic analyses revealed that inoculation with T. harzianum did not affect the leaf metabolome in the absence of herbivory five weeks after inoculation. However, compared to non-inoculated plants, inoculated plants exhibited significant metabolic alterations in herbivore-damaged leaves following N. viridula feeding, while changes in the metabolic profile of distant leaves were less pronounced. Notably, metabolites involved in the shikimate-phenylpropanoid pathway, known to be involved in plant defence responses, displayed higher accumulation in damaged leaves of inoculated plants compared to non-inoculated plants. Conclusion Our results indicate that root inoculation with T. harzianum T22 affects plant defences against N. viridula, leading to reduced insect performance. Metabolite-level effects were primarily observed in damaged leaves, suggesting that the priming effect mainly results in localized metabolite accumulation at the site of attack. Future research should focus on identifying the detected compounds and determining their role in impairing N. viridula performance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fe3f772abeb24e9f9d01084abfaf6e20 |
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| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-fe3f772abeb24e9f9d01084abfaf6e202025-08-20T02:29:26ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-05-0125111410.1186/s12870-025-06650-3The plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum T22 modulates plant metabolism and negatively affects Nezara viridulaSara Van Hee0Alejandro E. Segurado Luchsinger1Antonino Cusumano2Joleen Masschelein3Hans Jacquemyn4Bart Lievens5CMPG Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M2S), KU LeuvenLaboratory for Biomolecular Discovery and Engineering, Department of Biology, KU LeuvenDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of PalermoLaboratory for Biomolecular Discovery and Engineering, Department of Biology, KU LeuvenLeuven Plant Institute (LPI), KU LeuvenCMPG Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M2S), KU LeuvenAbstract Background Plant-beneficial fungi play an important role in enhancing plant health and resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. Although extensive research has focused on their role in eliciting plant defences against pathogens, their contribution to induced resistance against herbivorous insects and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we used insect bioassays and untargeted metabolomics to investigate the impact of root inoculation of sweet pepper with the plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum T22 on direct defence responses against the insect herbivore Nezara viridula. Results We observed reduced relative growth rate of N. viridula on leaves of fungus-inoculated plants, with no change in mortality. Untargeted metabolomic analyses revealed that inoculation with T. harzianum did not affect the leaf metabolome in the absence of herbivory five weeks after inoculation. However, compared to non-inoculated plants, inoculated plants exhibited significant metabolic alterations in herbivore-damaged leaves following N. viridula feeding, while changes in the metabolic profile of distant leaves were less pronounced. Notably, metabolites involved in the shikimate-phenylpropanoid pathway, known to be involved in plant defence responses, displayed higher accumulation in damaged leaves of inoculated plants compared to non-inoculated plants. Conclusion Our results indicate that root inoculation with T. harzianum T22 affects plant defences against N. viridula, leading to reduced insect performance. Metabolite-level effects were primarily observed in damaged leaves, suggesting that the priming effect mainly results in localized metabolite accumulation at the site of attack. Future research should focus on identifying the detected compounds and determining their role in impairing N. viridula performance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06650-3Defence primingHerbivoryMetabolomicsStink bugSweet pepper |
| spellingShingle | Sara Van Hee Alejandro E. Segurado Luchsinger Antonino Cusumano Joleen Masschelein Hans Jacquemyn Bart Lievens The plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum T22 modulates plant metabolism and negatively affects Nezara viridula BMC Plant Biology Defence priming Herbivory Metabolomics Stink bug Sweet pepper |
| title | The plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum T22 modulates plant metabolism and negatively affects Nezara viridula |
| title_full | The plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum T22 modulates plant metabolism and negatively affects Nezara viridula |
| title_fullStr | The plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum T22 modulates plant metabolism and negatively affects Nezara viridula |
| title_full_unstemmed | The plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum T22 modulates plant metabolism and negatively affects Nezara viridula |
| title_short | The plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum T22 modulates plant metabolism and negatively affects Nezara viridula |
| title_sort | plant beneficial fungus trichoderma harzianum t22 modulates plant metabolism and negatively affects nezara viridula |
| topic | Defence priming Herbivory Metabolomics Stink bug Sweet pepper |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06650-3 |
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