Analysis of protein profile of tomato root infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp lycopersici

Promotion of faba bean seedling growth under Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fabae and cinnamic acid stress in faba bean-wheat intercropping system and underlying proteomic mechanisms

Continuous cropping severely affects faba bean growth, mainly due to pathogen and autotoxic substance accumulation. Here, we used faba bean monocropping (M) and intercropping with wheat (I), with stress treatments of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fabae (FOF) alone (F) and combined with cinnamic acid (F + C), to analyze seedling growth, defense-related enzymes, levels of resistance-associated substances, and protein expression profiles in roots. The results showed that intercropping mitigated the inhibitory effects of FOF and cinnamic acid. FOF resulted in increased activities of defense-related enzymes as well as levels of resistance-associated substances. Proteomic analysis showed that 22 proteins were upregulated following FOF inoculation (M + F), and 6 proteins were downregulated after the addition of cinnamic acid (M + F + C) in monocropping plants; these proteins were mainly involved in pathways associated with carbohydrate metabolism, energy, and the cytoplasm. Comparison of monocropping and intercropping indicated that the upregulated proteins were mostly associated with stress and defense, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, maintenance of cellular homeostasis, and protein synthesis. KEGG analysis revealed that intercropping increased enrichment in pathways associated with metabolism, ribosomes, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, proteasomes, pyruvate metabolism, and pentose and glucuronate interconversions. The results indicated that intercropping mitigated growth inhibition by FOF and cinnamic acid by increasing energy production, maintaining normal cellular functions, and promoting the synthesis of defense-associated secondary metabolites. These findings provide a basis for further investigation into the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of intercropping in controlling resistance to Fusarium wilt in the faba bean.

Proteomic analysis of the faba bean-wheat intercropping system in controlling the occurrence of faba bean fusarium wilt due to stress caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fabae and benzoic acid

BACKGROUND

In faba bean, continuous cropping severely affects plant growth and increases the incidence of fusarium wilt due to the accumulation of pathogens and autotoxic substances. The intercropping of faba bean and wheat is commonly used to alleviate the occurrence of fusarium wilt in the faba bean.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Fabae(FOF) and benzoic acid in the occurrence of faba bean fusarium wilt and unravel the potential mechanism of intercropping in alleviating its occurrence.

METHODS

Hydroponic experiment was carried out using monocropping faba bean (M) and intercropping faba bean and wheat (I) patterns under FOF alone stress (M + F, I + F), FOF and benzoic acid double stress (M + F + B, I + F + B). The growth of faba bean seedlings under FOF and benzoic acid dual stresses were analyzed as well as the protein expression profile of monocropping and intercropping faba bean roots.

RESULT

Under FOF stress, the growth of faba bean seedlings was inhibited, and the inhibitory effect was enhanced under the dual stress of FOF and benzoic acid. However, faba bean-wheat intercropping alleviated the inhibitory effect of FOF and benzoic acid on faba bean growth. In faba bean, the up-regulated protein was involved in different functions, such as redox, hydrogen peroxide decomposition, and metabolic processes under FOF stress (M + F, I + F) compared to the control. Compared with FOF stress (M + F, I + F), under the dual stress of FOF and benzoic acid (M + F + B, I + F + B), the up-regulated protein in faba bean were involved in intracellular redox balance, defense, and maintenance of cell integrity. Compared with monocropping (M, M + F, M + F + B), the up-regulated protein function of intercropping(I, I + F, I + F + B) was mainly involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, redox balance, biological carbon fixation of photosynthesis, and so on. KEGG enrichment analysis results showed that intercropping increased ethylene and jasmonic acid synthesis and other related pathways to improve resistance against fusarium wilt in the faba bean.

CONCLUSION

The growth of faba bean was inhibited under FOF stress and the inhibitory effect was enhanced under the dual stress of FOF and benzoic acid, which promoted the occurrence of faba bean fusarium wilt. This might be due to the down-regulation of energy and cytoplasmic matrix proteins under FOF and benzoic acid stress. The faba bean wheat intercropping alleviated the inhibition of FOF and benzoic acid stress by up-regulating the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, redox homeostasis, photosynthetic carbon fixation, and other related proteins. Besides, it also promoted the biosynthesis of ethylene, and jasmonic acid, improved the resistance of faba bean plants, and alleviated the occurrence of faba bean fusarium wilt. This provides a theoretical basis for the determination of jasmonic acid and ethylene content.

Molecular Analysis of MgO Nanoparticle-Induced Immunity against Fusarium Wilt in Tomato

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL), is a devastating soilborne disease in tomatoes. Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) induce strong immunity against Fusarium wilt in tomatoes. However, the mechanisms underlying this immunity remain poorly understood. Comparative transcriptome analysis and microscopy of tomato roots were performed to determine the mechanism of MgO NP-induced immunity against FOL. Eight transcriptomes were prepared from tomato roots treated under eight different conditions. Differentially expressed genes were compared among the transcriptomes. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed that in tomato roots pretreated with MgO NPs, Rcr3 encoding apoplastic protease and RbohD encoding NADPH oxidase were upregulated when challenge-inoculated with FOL. The gene encoding glycine-rich protein 4 (SlGRP4) was chosen for further analysis. SlGRP4 was rapidly transcribed in roots pretreated with MgO NPs and inoculated with FOL. Immunomicroscopy analysis showed that SlGRP4 accumulated in the cell walls of epidermal and vascular vessel cells of roots pretreated with MgO NPs, but upon FOL inoculation, SlGRP4 further accumulated in the cell walls of cortical tissues within 48 h. The results provide new insights into the probable mechanisms of MgO NP-induced tomato immunity against Fusarium wilt.

Proteomics of Reproductive Development, Fruit Ripening, and Stress Responses in Tomato

The fruits of the tomato crop (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are increasingly consumed by humans worldwide. Due to their rich nutritional quality, pharmaceutical properties, and flavor, tomato crops have gained a salient role as standout crops among other plants. Traditional breeding and applied functional research have made progress in varying tomato germplasms to subdue biotic and abiotic stresses. Proteomic investigations within a span of few decades have assisted in consolidating the functional genomics and transcriptomic research. However, due to the volatility and dynamicity of proteins in the regulation of various biosynthetic pathways, there is a need for continuing research in the field of proteomics to establish a network that could enable a more comprehensive understanding of tomato growth and development. With this view, we provide a comprehensive review of proteomic studies conducted on the tomato plant in past years, which will be useful for future breeders and researchers working to improve the tomato crop.

Nitrogen supply and intercropping control of Fusarium wilt in faba bean depend on organic acids exuded from the roots

Fusarium wilt in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fabae (FOF), which reduces the yield of crop. We used greenhouse, field and laboratory experiments to evaluate the role of organic acids in the occurrence of Fusarium wilt of faba bean to confirm the mechanism of rational application of nitrogen (N) and intercropping to alleviate Fusarium wilt. We investigated the response of organic acids exuded from the roots of faba bean to different N levels and cropping patterns (monocropping and intercropping with wheat). The results showed that the application of N and intercropping with wheat could control the Fusarium wilt of faba bean, which was closely related to the components and quantity of organic acids exuded from its roots. Among them, tartaric acid and malic acid are the most abundant and important, because they have a significant inhibitory effect on the growth and reproduction of FOF and substantially aid in the control of Fusarium wilt. The application of 90 kg ha⁻¹ of N combined with wheat intercropping significantly controlled the Fusarium wilt and increased the grain yield of faba bean. Our results suggest that 90 kg ha⁻¹ of N combined with intercropping is the most effective way to control Fusarium wilt and should be incorporated into agricultural management practices.

Omics applications: towards a sustainable protection of tomato

Transcriptome data and gene expression analysis have a huge potential in the study of multiple relationships involving plants, pathogens, and pests, including the interactions with beneficial microorganisms such as endophytes or other functional groups. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and other recent long-read-based sequencing approaches (i.e., nanopore and others) provide unprecedented tools allowing the fast identification of plant information processing systems, in situ and in real time, fundamental for crop management and pest regulation. Other -omics approaches such as metagenomics and metatranscriptomics allow high-resolution insights on the rhizosphere ecology. They may highlight key factors affecting belowground biodiversity or processes, modulating the expression of stress-responsive pathways. The application of miRNAs and other small RNAs is a relatively new field of application, with enormous potential for the selective activation of defense pathways. However, limitations concerning the stability of the RNA molecules and their effective delivery must be overcome.