Beneficial Microbes Application on Tomato Significantly Improves Accumulation of Metabolites with Nutraceutical Value ^†

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an important crop and is consumed worldwide. This vegetable is an excellent source of natural compounds (i.e., antioxidants including vitamins C and E, lycopene, b-carotene, lutein and flavonoids) and minerals useful for human health. Several studies have shown the correlation between tomato consumption and the prevention of some types of cancer and chronic cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the improvement of nutritional value of tomato, by using beneficial microorganisms, including selected strains of Streptomyces, Bacillus and Trichoderma, has been investigated. These microbes were applied on tomato plants in a field trial either as single inoculants or as microbial consortia. After the treatments, plants were subjected to a metabolomic analysis by LC-MS qTOF and led to the identification of sixteen metabolites, including tomatine and its derivatives, solafloridine, apo-13-zeaxanthinone, deoxy phytoprostane and L-phenylalanine. Results showed a significant difference in relative abundance of these metabolites among treatments. Bacillus application, alone or in combination with T22, induced the production of tomatine, while Trichoderma alone or in combination with Streptomyces or Bacillus and combination between Streptomyces and Bacillus, induced the production of solafloridine. The combination of Streptomyces and Trichoderma increased the accumulation of solafloridine, apo-13-zeaxanthinone, deoxy phytoprostane and L-phenylalanine, compared with the single treatments. In conclusion, field applications of Streptomyces, Bacillus and Trichoderma significantly induced metabolic profile change of tomato and the accumulation of metabolites with nutraceutical value.