Contrasted responses of Botrytis cinerea isolates developing on tomato plants grown under different nitrogen nutrition regimes

Abstract

The nutritional status of a plant is known to influence its susceptibility to pathogens. In the case of Botrytis cinerea, the role of nitrogen fertilization of various host plants on disease development appears to be variable. This study was carried out to characterize possible variability associated with isolates and inoculum density of B. cinerea in its ability to infect leaf-pruning wounds and to develop stem lesions on tomato plants, as affected by the nitrogen input. Six isolates differing in their aggressiveness to tomato were compared. They all had similar reaction patterns in vitro in response to differential nitrogen levels. In tests on plants grown with contrasted regimes of nitrate fertilization, overall disease severity was lower for all isolates on plants with higher nitrogen inputs, regardless of inoculum concentration. However, differences among isolates were observed in the effect of plant nitrogen nutrition on infection and on lesion expansion. Disease onset was delayed on all plants with higher nitrogen inputs, but the response was greater for isolates with lower aggressiveness on tomato. The highest contrast among isolates was observed with the colonization of stems. The daily rate of stem lesion expansion decreased with increasing nitrogen fertilization levels for the more aggressive isolates, while it increased for the less aggressive isolate. Hypotheses to explain these results are discussed in light of the possible physiological effects of nitrogen fertilization on nutrient availability for the pathogen in the host tissue and of possible production of defence metabolites by the plant.

Dynamics in the Strawberry Rhizosphere Microbiome in Response to Biochar and Botrytis cinerea Leaf Infection

“…Moreover, induced resistance against soilborne pathogens, including nematodes, by biochar has been reported more recently (Huang et al, 2015; Jaiswal et al, 2015; George et al, 2016). Following hypotheses are made for the mechanisms involved: (1) A nutrient addition effect of biochar (see above), as the susceptibility of plants to diseases is also known to be influenced by its nutritional status (Nam et al, 2006; Lecompte et al, 2010; Xu et al, 2013). Therefore, in further research the plant tissue nutrient content should be analyzed in the biochar-amended plants as compared to the control plants, (2) The change in the rhizosphere microbiome from week six onwards due to biochar toward bacteria involved in biological control.…”

Influence of over-expression of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase on amino acid metabolism and defence responses against Botrytis cinerea infection in Arabidopsis thaliana

“…Higher rice N content was reported to increase susceptibility to blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) (Talukder et al, 2005), whereas susceptibility to B. cinerea decreased with increasing N concentration in tomato (Hoffland et al, 1999;Lecompte et al, 2010). It was proposed that high N availability could facilitate production of constitutive and induced defence molecules (Lecompte et al, 2010). In addition, an important ammonium accumulation occurs in infected tomato leaves as a consequence of proteolysis and amino acid deamination in the course of P. syringae infection (Pérez-García et al, 1998).…”

“…The influence of N nutrition on hemibiotrophic or necrotrophic fungi is less clear (Walters and Bingham, 2007). Higher rice N content was reported to increase susceptibility to blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) (Talukder et al, 2005), whereas susceptibility to B. cinerea decreased with increasing N concentration in tomato (Hoffland et al, 1999;Lecompte et al, 2010). It was proposed that high N availability could facilitate production of constitutive and induced defence molecules (Lecompte et al, 2010).…”

Characterisation of Growth Variability and Mycelial Compatibility of Botrytis Cinerea Isolates Originated from Apple and Strawberry in Lithuania

“…The temperature influences the ability of the pathogen to spread (Kumari et al, 2014;Fillinger and Elad, 2016). The growth of B. cinerea in vitro on agar media is significantly influenced by concentration of ammonium nitrate in the medium (Lecompte et al, 2010). Formation of sclerotia can be related to spread pathways of the pathogen.…”