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The Newly Identified Trichoderma harzianum Partitivirus (ThPV2) Does Not Diminish Spore Production and Biocontrol Activity of Its Host

Summary

This research discovered a new virus that infects a beneficial fungus used in agriculture. Unlike many viruses that harm their hosts, this virus actually helps the fungus produce more spores while maintaining its ability to protect plants from diseases and promote plant growth. This finding is significant for sustainable agriculture. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides new tools for developing better biological alternatives to chemical pesticides • Helps improve crop protection methods that are safer for the environment • Contributes to more sustainable farming practices • Could lead to better plant growth-promoting products for gardens and agriculture • May help reduce reliance on chemical pesticides in food production

Background

Mycoviruses infect members of all major fungal taxa and oomycetes. By 2020, over 100 fungal species were known to harbor mycoviruses, with complex relationships between fungi and viruses. Some mycovirus infections can reduce virulence or cause non-pathogenicity in plant pathogenic fungi, making them potential tools for biological control strategies.

Objective

To characterize a new partitivirus isolated from Trichoderma harzianum strain T673 collected in China and investigate its biological effects on the host fungus, particularly regarding spore production and biocontrol activity.

Results

The genome of ThPV2 consists of a 1693 bp dsRNA1 encoding an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and a 1458 bp dsRNA2 encoding a hypothetical protein. The virus-infected strain showed higher mycelial density and increased conidiospore and chlamydospore production compared to the cured variant. Both strains demonstrated plant growth-promoting activities in cucumber plants and effectively inhibited several fungal pathogens. The virus-infected strain showed moderately improved biocontrol activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum.

Conclusion

The newly discovered ThPV2 does not impair but may enhance the biocontrol potential of T. harzianum. The virus infection increases spore production while maintaining the fungus’s beneficial properties for plant growth promotion and pathogen control. These findings expand our knowledge of mycoviruses and provide relevant information for developing mycoviruses for agricultural applications.
  • Published in:Viruses,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.3390/v14071532
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