Systemic induced plant resistance genes expression in winter wheat under treatment with antagonistic bacteria of Fusarium sp .

Abstract

Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium graminearum are pathogenic fungi responsible for diseases in wheat, leading to mycotoxins accumulation in wheat grains and significant yield losses. The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) represents a promising, sustainable biocontrol alternative to chemical fungicides. This study aimed to investigate the capacity of a ten-strain consortium of Bacillus and Paenibacillus bacteria to induce systemic resistance in winter wheat against Fusarium fungi. The PGPR consortium triggered a potent and temporally modulated defense response. In roots at 7 days post-treatment, expression of the defense genes PR-1 and PR-6 surged 16-fold and 38-fold, respectively. Systemic defense activation in shoots was delayed, peaking at 14 days. After 28 days, consortium-treated plants showed enhanced growth, with an 8% increase in shoot length compared to controls. Additionally, further research should clarify the specific microbial metabolites involved and explore the consortium’s efficacy against a broader spectrum of wheat pathogens.