Construction of Streptomyces lydicus A01 transformant with the chit33 gene from Trichoderma harzianum CECT2413 and its biocontrol effect on Fusaria

Streptomyces lydicus A01 resists many plant pathogens (including Fusarium spp.) by producing the antifungal agent natamycin, which binds to the ergosterol of fungal cell membranes and inhibits the growth of pathogens. Trichoderma harzianum CECT2413 is a widely-distributed soil fungus that antagonizes several plant fungal pathogens (including Fusarium spp.) by producing chitinase and degrading chitin, a major component of the fungal cell wall. This study attempted to enhance the biocontrol effect of S. lydicus A01 on Fusarium spp. by transforming the chitinase gene of Trichoderma. Chitinase and natamycin could act synergistically on both the cell walls and cell membranes of pathogens. The 33-kD chitinase-encoding gene (chit33) was cloned and conjugal-transformed from T. harzianum CECT2413 to S. lydicus A01, and then confirmed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Subsequent analyses using the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method and ultraviolet spectrophotometry showed that compared with its wild type strain (WT), the S. lydicus A01 conjugal transformant (CT) with chit33 gene exhibited substantially higher chitinase activity and natamycin production. The resistance of S. lydicus A01-chit33 CT and WT to four Fusaria in crops and vegetables was tested via the cup-plate method. Compared with the WT, the conjugal transformant of S. lydicus A01 with chit33 gene from T. harzianum CECT2413 showed greatly increased biocontrol effect on fusarium disease. This study would be beneficial to the development of high-quality antifungal bio-agents for agricultural applications via the synergy between the previously non-existent and pre-existing functions achieved through heterogeneous gene transformation.