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 microbial-mediated yield
increase and a strong up-regulation of hormonal and secondary metabolic
pathways associated with growth stimulation and crop defence to
environmental stresses.