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

Summary

This research explores how two types of soil fungi interact with each other through chemical signals. When Trichoderma (a beneficial biocontrol fungus) encounters Laccaria bicolor (a helpful fungus that aids plant growth), they communicate through airborne volatile compounds and secreted chemicals. The study found that these fungi employ different strategies depending on how close they are to each other, changing their chemical production to either compete or coexist, which has implications for improving agricultural biocontrol applications.

Background

Trichoderma species are dominant biocontrol agents in the bioinoculant market, capable of antagonizing plant pathogens through multiple mechanisms including volatile organic compound (VOC) emission. The interactions between mycoparasitic Trichoderma and beneficial ectomycorrhizal fungi like Laccaria bicolor in shared soil niches remain poorly understood, particularly regarding their chemical communication strategies.

Objective

To investigate the metabolic responses and interaction strategies between Laccaria bicolor and four Trichoderma strains under varying degrees of physical contact by analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hyphal metabolomes, and secreted exudates using integrated metabolomic approaches.

Results

Trichoderma growth was suppressed under shared headspace, while L. bicolor was more strongly inhibited under direct contact. Metabolomic profiling revealed hundreds of discriminant mass features with strain-specific alterations in VOC and soluble metabolite profiles. Key metabolic pathways including amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis showed differential enrichment 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. The findings demonstrate distinct fungal recognition and competition strategies and provide insights into how antagonistic interactions may influence plant-associated microbial networks through putative non-self-recognition mechanisms.
  • Published in:Fungal Biology and Biotechnology,
  • Study Type:In Vitro Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.1186/s40694-025-00204-w; PMID: 40696431
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