Elicitation of PVY Resistance by Coniothyrium aleuritis

Abstract

Endophytes associated with plants are recognized as bio-reservoirs of natural products and denote a significant symbiotic interaction in nature. Endophytes penetrate the plant’s interior tissues without showing any indications of disease or obvious alterations. In this study, the potential of a novel and new isolated plant growth-stimulating fungus, Coniothyrium aleuritis, was evaluated against PVY (the pathogen potato virus Y) on potato plants. Many parameters, including disease severity, PVY titer, enzymatic profiling, defense-related biochemical marker (caro-tenoid), phenolic compounds, proline content, as well as growth and yield parameters, have been investigated to clarify the role of C. aleuritis isolate in mitigating PVY-induced damage due to virus infection. Potato and tobacco plants treated with C. aleuritis grew faster, showed fewer symptoms of disease, and had lower levels of PVY accumulation than plants grown without the treatment. Antioxidant enzymes polyphenol oxidase, catalase, and super-oxide dismutase were increased in treated potatoes. A notable upsurge in the transcription levels of defensive genes (PR1b, and PAL1 in potato and PR1 and Coi1 in tobacco), phenolic compounds, carotenoid, and proline contents was observed in treated plants after inoculation. All the experimental and analytical data show that C. aleuritis is effective in supporting potato yield and preventing PVY infection. These findings suggest that C. aleuritis is a promising and eco-friendly treatment for controlling PVY infections.