MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Strain and contact-dependent metabolomic reprogramming reveals distinct interaction strategies between Laccaria bicolor and Trichoderma

Summary

Scientists studied how two types of fungi interact when grown together in the laboratory. They found that different strains of Trichoderma fungi and beneficial mushroom fungi (Laccaria) communicate and compete using chemical signals that vary depending on how close they are to each other. When fungi are far apart, they use airborne chemicals, but when they touch directly, they change their chemical production dramatically. These findings could help improve the use of Trichoderma as biological pest control agents in agriculture.

Background

Trichoderma species are widely used biocontrol agents that interact with beneficial ectomycorrhizal fungi like Laccaria bicolor in shared soil niches. Understanding the chemical mechanisms mediating these fungal interactions is crucial for optimizing biocontrol applications and predicting impacts on plant-associated microbial communities.

Objective

This study investigates how different Trichoderma strains interact with L. bicolor through volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and soluble metabolites under varying degrees of physical contact. The research aims to elucidate strain- and contact-dependent metabolic reprogramming and identify distinct signaling or antagonistic strategies employed by each fungal partner.

Results

Trichoderma growth was suppressed under shared headspace, while L. bicolor was more strongly inhibited under direct contact. Hundreds of discriminant mass features showed contact- and strain-dependent alterations in VOC and soluble metabolite profiles. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed differential enrichment in amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis depending on interaction stage and fungal partner.

Conclusion

Trichoderma-Laccaria interactions are mediated by dynamic, contact-specific chemical reprogramming involving coordinated changes in both volatile and non-volatile metabolite production. These findings demonstrate distinct fungal recognition and competitive strategies that may influence tripartite communication in plant-associated microbial networks, with implications for biocontrol efficacy.
  • Published in:Fungal Biology and Biotechnology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMC12285104, PMID: 40696431, doi: 10.1186/s40694-025-00204-w
Scroll to Top