Microbial-based biostimulant enhances sweet pepper performance by metabolic reprogramming of phytohormone profile and secondary plant metabolism

Abstract

Microbial-based biostimulants can improve crop productivity by modulating cell metabolic pathways including hormonal balance. However, little is known about the microbial-mediated molecular changes causing yield increase. The present study elucidates the metabolomic modulation occurring in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) leaves at the vegetative and reproductive phenological stages in response to microbial-based biostimulants containing the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Rhizoglomus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae as well as Trichoderma koningii. Application of endophytic fungi significantly increased total fruit yield by 23.7% compared to that of untreated plants. Multivariate statistics indicated that the biostimulant treatment substantially altered the shape of the metabolic profile of pepper. Compared to the untreated control, the plants treated with microbial biostimulants presented with modified gibberellin, auxin, and cytokinin production and distribution. The biostimulant treatment also induced secondary metabolism and caused carotenoids, saponins, and phenolic compounds to accumulate in the plants. Differential metabolomic signatures indicated diverse and concerted biochemical responses in the plants following the colonisation of their roots by beneficial microorganisms. The above findings demonstrated a clear link between microbialmediated yield increase and a strong up-regulation of hormonal and secondary metabolic pathways associated with growth stimulation and crop defence to environmental stresses. Summary statement Root inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Rhizoglomus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae as well asTrichoderma koningii increased fruit yield of greenhouse pepper through a general up-regulation of hormonal and secondary metabolic pathways associated with growth stimulation and crop defence to environmental stresses.