Magnesium Limitation Leads to Transcriptional Down-Tuning of Auxin Synthesis, Transport, and Signaling in the Tomato Root

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is becoming a widespread limiting factor for crop production. How crops adapt to Mg limitation remains largely unclear at the molecular level. Using hydroponic-cultured tomato seedlings, we found that total Mg2+ content significantly decreased by ∼80% under Mg limitation while K+ and Ca2+ concentrations increased. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that Mg transporters (MRS2/MGTs) constitute a previously uncharacterized 3-clade tree in planta with two rounds of asymmetric duplications, providing evolutionary evidence for further molecular investigation. In adaptation to internal Mg deficiency, the expression of six representative MGTs (two in the shoot and four in the root) was up-regulated in Mg-deficient plants. Contradictory to the transcriptional elevation of most of MGTs, Mg limitation resulted in the ∼50% smaller root system. Auxin concentrations particularly decreased by ∼23% in the Mg-deficient root, despite the enhanced accumulation of gibberellin, cytokinin, and ABA. In accordance with such auxin reduction was overall transcriptional down-regulation of thirteen genes controlling auxin biosynthesis (TAR/YUCs), transport (LAXs, PINs), and signaling (IAAs, ARFs). Together, systemic down-tuning of gene expression in the auxin signaling pathway under Mg limitation preconditions a smaller tomato root system, expectedly stimulating MGT transcription for Mg uptake or translocation.

ENHANCEMENT OF TOMATO ROOT-KNOT NEMATODES CONTROL USING A NOVEL BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT IN NORTH SINAI

This study focuses on using olive mill waste water (OMWW) as a novel biological treatment to decrease plant diseases while improving food quality. Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne is considered one of the main tomato diseases in North Sinai. The current study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of diffracting olive mill waste waters concentrations compared with the nematicide Oxamylon on Tomato Root-knot. OMWW was applied daily to tomato plants growing in sandy loam soil for three months. Represented five different concentration of OMWW (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) used for irrigation during the experiment. The positive control treatment was treated with Oxamyl at recommended dose. The negative control was watered only with tap water (0%). The results showed that mortality rates of M. incognita were significantly affected by concentrations. All treatments were superior to the untreated control in reducing nematode, except for OMWWs at 100 %, which was equivalent to the control treatment. The largest drop in root galling numbers Oxamyl was achieved (75.73%) was followed by 50% at (73.81%), 75% (68.01%), and 25% (39.67%). The highest reductions rated were recorded with the 50%and 75% concentrations used of OMWW. Overall, in the effort of efficient biological treatments was achieved for root knot control measures in tomato, the OMWW application may be used as one factor of integrated root-knot nematode management.

Fungi Dominated the Incorporation of 13C-CO2 into Microbial Biomass in Tomato Rhizosphere Soil under Different CO2 Concentrations

An elevated CO2 (eCO2) fumigation experiment was carried out to study the influence of various CO2 concentrations on microorganisms involved in the incorporation of root-derived C in greenhouse soil systems. In this study, 400 and 800 µmol·mol−1 CO2 fumigation treatments were conducted during tomato planting. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling based on the stable isotope probing (SIP) technique was applied to trace active microorganisms. The absolute total abundance of 13C-PLFAs was much higher under eCO2 treatment. Most of the 13C-CO2 was incorporated into the 13C-PLFAs 18:2ω6,9 (fungi), 16:0 (general PLFA), 18:1ω9c (Gram-negative bacteria, G−) and i17:0 (Gram-positive bacteria, G+) via rhizodeposition from tomato under ambient CO2 (aCO2) and eCO2 treatments, suggesting similar responses of active microorganisms to different CO2 treatments. However, the fungi (characterized by the 13C-PLFA 18:2ω6,9) played a much more dominant role in the incorporation of root-derived C under eCO2. Actinomycetes, marked by the 13C-PLFA 10-Me-18:0, occurred only on labeling day 15 under the eCO2 treatment, indicating that the actinomycetes fed on both soil organic carbon and fresh rhizodeposition. It was indicated that eCO2 significantly affected microbial biomass and microbial community structures involved in the incorporation of 13C-CO2 via tomato root secretions, as supported by Adonis analysis and the Mantel test.

Antifungal Nanoformulation for Biocontrol of Tomato Root and Crown Rot Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are the most cultivated and important vegetable crop in the world. These plants can wilt during crop growth due to fusarium wilt (fusariosis), a disease that damages tomato vascular systems. The Fusarium isolated and analyzed in this work correspond to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici. The isolates were molecularly identified, and analysis was done on the in vitro effects of the nanoemulsions (previously obtained from extracts of Chilean medicinal plants of the genera Psoralea and Escallonia) to inhibit mycelial and conidial germination of the isolates. Subsequently, the nanoemulsions were evaluated under greenhouse conditions for preventive control of fusariosis in the root and crown, with high levels of disease control observed using the highest concentrations of these nanoemulsions, at 250 and 500 ppm.

Tomato Domestication Affects Potential Functional Molecular Pathways of Root-Associated Soil Bacteria

While it has been well evidenced that plant domestication affects the structure of the root-associated microbiome, there is a poor understanding of how domestication-mediated differences between rhizosphere microorganisms functionally affect microbial ecosystem services. In this study, we explore how domestication influenced functional assembly patterns of bacterial communities in the root-associated soil of 27 tomato accessions through a transect of evolution, from plant ancestors to landraces to modern cultivars. Based on molecular analysis, functional profiles were predicted and co-occurrence networks were constructed based on the identification of co-presences of functional units in the tomato root-associated microbiome. The results revealed differences in eight metabolic pathway categories and highlighted the influence of the host genotype on the potential functions of soil bacterial communities. In general, wild tomatoes differed from modern cultivars and tomato landraces which showed similar values, although all ancestral functional characteristics have been conserved across time. We also found that certain functional groups tended to be more evolutionarily conserved in bacterial communities associated with tomato landraces than those of modern varieties. We hypothesize that the capacity of soil bacteria to provide ecosystem services is affected by agronomic practices linked to the domestication process, particularly those related to the preservation of soil organic matter.

Biological control of Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith), the causal pathogen of bacterial wilt disease by using Pantoea spp

Background Bacterial wilt of tomato (BWP) caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) is a very important disease. Biological control of this disease is a very important tool to protect the plant and environment from pollution of chemical control. Results Twenty isolates of genus, Pantoea were isolated from healthy tomato root. Out of 20 isolates, 2 strains, PHYTPO1 and PHYTPO2, showed highly antagonistic property to control the growth of R. solanacearum in vitro conditions. They were identified as P. agglomerans by using 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence analysis. The 2 isolates were selected to study their effect (as cell suspension or culture filtrate) on the bacterial wilt under greenhouse conditions. PHYTPO1 inhibited maximum growth reduction of R. solanacearum and formed 2.5 cm2 of inhibition zone, followed by 1.2 cm2 in PHYTOPO2 under in vitro conditions. Treating with both isolates of P. agglomerans was significantly reduced disease severity of tomato wilt disease. The disease severity was reduced to 74.1 when treated as cell suspension, while when treated as culture filtrate, it reduced the disease severity up to 69.4 than infected control. Conclusion The strains of Pantoea can be used as an ecofriendly method to control of the most economic pathogen of tomato under greenhouse conditions. Further study is needed to find an appropriate formulation and approving application of these bacteria under field conditions.

Exploring Two Streptomyces Species to Control Rhizoctonia solani in Tomato

Streptomyces species are effective biocontrol agents toward many plant pathogens. These microorganisms are well known for producing secondary metabolites, promoting plant growth and inducing plant defense mechanisms. In this study, the ability of tomato root-colonizing Streptomyces strains to trigger the resistance against Rhizoctonia solani (J.G. Kühn) AG4 was investigated. For this goal, we evaluated the pattern of LOXB and PAL1 genes expression changes upon pathogen inoculation in primed tomato plants. The results revealed that Streptomyces globisporous (Krasil'nikov) strain F8 and S. praecox (Millard and Burr) strain R7 were able to enhance the expression of lipoxygenase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase in tomato plants. This finding suggests that Streptomyces strains F8 and R7 may trigger jasmonic acid and phenyl propanoid signaling pathways in plants, therefore, resulting an induced defense status in tomatoes against R. solani. Biochemical characterization of these Streptomyces strains showed that they were strong producers of siderophores. S. praecox strain R7 produced siderophores of hyderoxamate and catechol types and S. globisporous strain F8 produced a phenolic siderophore. Moreover, they also produced protease while only the S. praecox strain R7 was able to produce amylase. Taken together, these results indicate that S. globisporous strain F8 and S. praecox strain R7 promote plant growth and reduces disease and hence are suitable for future in depth and field studies with the aim to attain appropriate biocontrol agents to protect tomatoes against R. solani.