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Carbon and Nitrogen Sources Influence Parasitic Responsiveness in Trichoderma atroviride NI-1

Summary

Scientists studied a beneficial fungus called Trichoderma atroviride that kills crop-damaging pathogens. They discovered that the type and quality of nutrients available directly affects how aggressive this fungus becomes. When provided with better nutrients like glucose and ammonia, the fungus produces more powerful enzymes to attack and destroy its prey. Remarkably, this fungus can even tell the difference between different types of pathogens and adjusts its attack strategy accordingly, making it a promising candidate for environmentally-friendly crop protection.

Background

Trichoderma species are biocontrol agents that parasitize plant pathogens using hydrolytic enzymes to degrade host cell walls. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating parasitic gene expression and host recognition remain poorly understood. This study examines how nutrient availability influences parasitic responsiveness in the native Trichoderma atroviride NI-1 strain.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of different carbon and nitrogen sources on the expression of parasitism-related genes (GRM) in Trichoderma atroviride NI-1 during interactions with Phytophthora capsici, Botrytis cinerea, and Rhizoctonia solani. The study aims to understand how nutrient quality regulates parasitic responsiveness and host differentiation.

Results

Gene expression of parasitism-related genes was poorly detected on PDA but significantly improved on minimal medium with preferent carbon and nitrogen sources, particularly glucose and dextrin. Ammonium stimulated stronger parasitic responsiveness than alternative nitrogen sources. Notably, T. atroviride demonstrated host-specific responses: cbh1 and cbh2 genes were only induced by P. capsici, while pra1 and ech42 showed different induction patterns depending on whether confronting fungi or oomycetes.

Conclusion

Carbon and nitrogen source quality significantly regulate T. atroviride parasitic responsiveness, suggesting that nutrient availability can override catabolic repression mechanisms during host interactions. T. atroviride can distinguish between oomycetes and fungi, employing specific molecular strategies for different prey, indicating a sophisticated host sensing and discrimination system. These findings support parasitism as a dominant characteristic in T. atroviride and have implications for biocontrol applications.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39452623, DOI: 10.3390/jof10100671
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