Tripartite symbiosis formed by Pisum sativum, rhizobia and mycorrhiza: Implications for the symbionts, the host plant and the pathogenic fungi

Ascochyta blight causes severe losses in field pea production and the search for resistance traits towards the causal agent Didymella pinodes is of particular importance to farmers. Various microsymbionts are reported to shape the plants´ immune response. However, regardless their contribution to resistance, they are hardly included in experimental designs. In this project, the bi-directional effect of the symbionts´ (rhizobia, mycorrhiza) and the leaf proteome/metabolome of two field pea cultivars with varying resistance levels towards D. pinodes is delineated.