Influence of plant genotype on the cultivable fungi associated to tomato rhizosphere and roots in different soils.
Rhizosphere and root-associated microbiota are crucial in determining plant health and in increasing productivity of agricultural crops. To date, research has mainly focused on the bacterial dimension of the microbiota. However, interest in the mycobiota is increasing, since fungi play a key role in soil ecosystems. We examined the effect of plant genotype, soil, and of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) on the cultivable component of rhizosphere and root-associated mycobiota of tomato. Resistant and susceptible varieties were cultivated on two different soils (A and B), under glasshouse conditions. Isolated fungi were identified by morphological and molecular approaches. Differences were found between the rhizosphere and the roots, which in general displayed a lower number of species. The structure of the mycobiota was significantly affected by the soil type in the rhizosphere as well as by the plant genotype within the roots (NPERMANOVA, p < 0.05). The addition of Fol changed the community structure, particularly in soil A, where Penicillium spp. and Fusarium spp. were the dominant responding fungi. Overall, the results indicated that i) soil type and plant genotype affect the fungal communities; ii) plant roots select few species from the rhizosphere; and iii) the fungal community structure is influenced by Fol.
Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10100 Torino, Italy.
Anna
A
Poli
Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10100 Torino, Italy.
Alexandra
A
Lazzari
Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10100 Torino, Italy.
Valeria
V
Prigione
Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10100 Torino, Italy.
Samuele
S
Voyron
Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences (DISAFA) and AGROINNOVA, Centre of Competence for the Innovation in the Agro-environmental Sector, University of Torino, Largo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095 TO, Italy.
Davide
D
Spadaro
Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10100 Torino, Italy. Electronic address: cristina.varese@unito.it.
Giovanna Cristina
GC
Varese
D058448:Biota; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005838:Genotype; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology*; D058441:Rhizosphere; D012988:Soil Microbiology
Fusarium wilt; Genetic diversity; Mycobiota; Soil type