Biological Control of Fusarium verticillioides P03 in Maize by Bacillus cereus sensu lato B25 Involves Coordinated Host–Bacterium Responses

Maize is a major global crop; however, its production is affected by Fusarium verticillioides, which causes stalk, ear, and root rot. Bacillus cereus B25 is a maize bacterium that antagonizes F. verticillioides, likely through antifungal compounds and possibly by inducing maize chitinase genes. Fusarium verticillioides effectively infects maize by producing a chitinase-modifying protein that disrupts maize chitinases, preventing fungal cell wall degradation and evasion of plant immune responses triggered by Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns. The aim of this work was to analyze maize, B25, and F. verticillioides gene expression during bipartite and tripartite interactions at early stages (5, 7, 10, and 14 days post-inoculation). Physiological results showed increased root and shoot growth in maize seedlings under the tripartite interactions compared to fungus alone. B25 was demonstrated to grow endophytically and coexist with F. verticillioides in maize roots. Maize extracellular chitinase genes were induced, possibly due to chitin fragments released from the fungal cell wall, while the fungus effector genes were also upregulated in response. Furthermore, the chitinase gene Zm00001eb317090 (bk4) may contribute to cell wall strengthening, as suggested by in silico co-expression analyses. Overall, these results support a coordinated interaction between maize and B25 that contributes to controlling F. verticillioides infection.