Differential Metabolic Reprogramming in Paenibacillus alvei-Primed Sorghum bicolor Seedlings in Response to Fusarium pseudograminearum Infection

Metabolic changes in sorghum seedlings in response to Paenibacillus alvei (NAS-6G6)-induced systemic resistance against Fusarium pseudograminearum crown rot were investigated by means of untargeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high definition mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HDMS). Treatment of seedlings with the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium P. alvei at a concentration of 1 × 10(8) colony forming units mL(−1) prior to inoculation with F. pseudograminearum lowered crown rot disease severity significantly at the highest inoculum dose of 1 × 10(6) spores mL(−1). Intracellular metabolites were subsequently methanol-extracted from treated and untreated sorghum roots, stems and leaves at 1, 4 and 7 days post inoculation (d.p.i.) with F. pseudograminearum. The extracts were analysed on an UHPLC-HDMS platform, and the data chemometrically processed to determine metabolic profiles and signatures related to priming and induced resistance. Significant treatment-related differences in primary and secondary metabolism post inoculation with F. pseudograminearum were observed between P. alvei-primed versus naïve S. bicolor seedlings. The differential metabolic reprogramming in primed plants comprised of a quicker and/or enhanced upregulation of amino acid-, phytohormone-, phenylpropanoid-, flavonoid- and lipid metabolites in response to inoculation with F. pseudograminearum.