Abstract

Bacillus subtilis MBI600 is a commercialized plant growth-promoting bacterial species used as a biocontrol agent in many crops, controlling various plant pathogens via direct or indirect mechanisms. In the present study, a detailed transcriptomic analysis of cucumber roots upon response to the Bs MBI600 strain is provided. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis showed altered gene expression in more than 1000 genes at 24 and 48 h post-application of Bs MBI600. Bs MBI600 induces genes involved in ISR and SAR signaling. In addition, genes involved in phytohormone production and nutrient availability showed an upregulation pattern, justifying the plant growth promotion. Biocontrol ability of Bs MBI600 seems also to be related to the activation of defense-related genes, such as peroxidase, endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucanase, PR-4, and thaumatin-like. Moreover, KEGG enriched results showed that differentially expressed genes were classified into biocontrol-related pathways. To further investigate the plant's response to the presence of PGPR, a profile of polar metabolites of cucumber treated with Bs MBI600 was performed and compared to that of untreated plants. The results of the current study gave insights into the mechanisms deployed by this biocontrol agent to promote plant resistance, helping to understand the molecular interactions in this system.

Keywords

Bacillus MBI600; transcriptomic analysis; metabolomic analysis; defense-related proteins; plant growth promotion

Published in

Plants
2022, Volume: 11, number: 9, article number: 1218
Publisher: MDPI

SLU Authors

• Tzelepis, Georgios

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network
AMR: Bacteria


UKÄ Subject classification

Botany


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11091218

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/117269