Innate Root Exudates Contributed to Contrasting Coping Strategies in Response to in Resistant and Susceptible Tomato Cultivars.

Tomato cultivars with contrasting resistance to pathogens regulate root exudates differentially in response to attacks. However, strategies using innate root exudates against infection remain unknown. This study analyzed the innate root exudates of two tomato cultivars and their functions in regulating infection. The innate root exudates differed between the two cultivars. Astaxanthin released from resistant plants inhibited colonization by but promoted motility, while neferine released from susceptible plants suppressed motility and colonization. The secretion of astaxanthin in resistant tomatoes promoted the growth of biocontrol fungi in soil and reduced the abundance of pathogenic fungi. Neferine secreted by the susceptible cultivar inhibited the relative abundance of the bacterial-biocontrol-related genus, indirectly reducing the soil's immune capacity. This study revealed contrasting strategies using root exudates in resistant and susceptible tomato cultivars to cope with infection, providing a basis for breeding disease-resistant cultivars.