Trichoderma koningii Epl1 induces crops resistance to pathogens
S. LIU (1), C. Cheng (2), M. Hsieh (1), K. Peng (3), C. Lo (2) (1) Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Da-Yeh University, Taiwan; (2) Department of Biotechnology, National Formosa University, Taiwan; (3) Department of Life Science, National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan

Plant diseases caused by phytopathogens have serious negative effects on the yields of many crops, and can result in large economic losses. Several Trichoderma spp. have been used as biocontrol agents against phytopathogens. Here we investigated that the beneficial filamentous fungus Trichoderma koningii Ri S3-8 secretes an extracellular small protein, designated as eliciting plant response-like protein 1 (Epl1), whether induces local and/or systemic disease resistance against fungal and bacterial pathogens in plants. Based on natural antagonistic interactions among microorganisms from previous results, we isolated and purified Epl1 and further examined the effect of treatment with Epl1 on plant disease resistance in this study. This is the first in vivo study of economic crops (carrots, tobaccos, and tomatoes were used) that demonstrated the introduction of Epl1 prior to infections significantly induced broad-spectrum disease resistance against variety of plant pathogens, including Pectobacterium carotovorum, Colletotrichum higginsianum, Alternaria brassicicola, and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV). However, treatment with Epl1 at the time of pathogen exposure did not result in complete suppression of disease. All the data strongly indicated that Epl1 induces the systemic resistance of host plants to antagonize phytopathogens.

Abstract Number: P17-583
Session Type: Poster