Trichoderma asperellum 152-42 confers resistance to Fusarium root rot in alfalfa through JA-mediated induced systemic resistance and reshaping of the rhizosphere microbiome.
Liu M, Suo X, Mai X, Smagghe G, Yin S
Biocontrol
A naturally occurring soil fungus could replace or reduce fungicides on the alfalfa fields that feed the dairy cows and beef cattle behind your next glass of milk or burger — cleaner soil, less chemical runoff, better food.
Researchers found a beneficial fungus that acts like a bodyguard for alfalfa plants. It works in three ways: it directly attacks the bad fungus causing root rot, it wakes up the plant's own immune defenses, and it encourages a healthier neighborhood of helpful microbes to grow around the roots. Plants treated with this fungus grew more vigorously and resisted disease significantly better in both greenhouse pots and real farm fields.
Key Findings
Trichoderma asperellum 152-42 inhibited the root-rot pathogen by 72% in lab cultures and reduced disease severity by 25% in pot experiments.
The beneficial fungus triggered the plant's jasmonic acid immune signaling pathway, boosting defense enzyme activity and reshaping gene expression in sucrose metabolism and stress-response pathways.
Field trials showed treated alfalfa produced 26% more crude protein and 10-13% more hay yield compared to untreated controls.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A beneficial soil fungus called Trichoderma asperellum 152-42 can protect alfalfa crops from a devastating root disease by activating the plant's own immune system and reshaping the community of microbes living around the roots. In field trials, treated plants produced 26% more protein and 10-13% more hay.
Abstract Preview
Fusarium root rot, caused by Fusarium spp., threatens alfalfa production, and Trichoderma species are emerging as potential biocontrol agents against this soilborne pathogen. However, the mechanism...
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