Are1-mediated nitrogen metabolism is associated with iron regulation in the mycoparasite Trichoderma atroviride.

Trichoderma atroviride is a mycoparasitic fungus with antagonistic activity against fungal pathogens and is used as a pathogen control agent alternative to synthetic fungicides. Sensing nutrient availability in the environment and adjusting metabolism for optimal growth, development and reproduction is essential for adaptability and is relevant to its mycoparasitic activity. During mycoparasitism, secondary metabolites are produced to weaken the fungal prey and support the attack.

Near real-time quantification of microbial volatile organic compounds from mycoparasitic fungi: Potential for advanced monitoring and pest control.

Microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) are thought to play a key role in the interactions between mycoparasitic fungi, such as the biocontrol agent Trichoderma atroviride (T. atroviride), and their environment. However, the analysis of MVOC emissions from fungal samples is challenging because of low analyte concentrations, typically in the ppb-range, and the complex chemical nature of biological samples.

Demonstrating the Applicability of Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry to Quantify Volatiles Emitted by the Mycoparasitic Fungus in Real Time: Monitoring of -Based Biopesticides.

The present study aims to explore the potential application of proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) for real-time monitoring of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). This investigation can be broadly divided into two parts. First, a selection of 14 MVOCs was made based on previous research that characterized the MVOC emissions of , which is a filamentous fungus widely used as a biocontrol agent.

The histone deacetylase Hda1 affects oxidative and osmotic stress response as well as mycoparasitic activity and secondary metabolite biosynthesis in .

The mycoparasitic fungus is applied in agriculture as a biostimulant and biologic control agent against fungal pathogens that infest crop plants. Secondary metabolites are among the main agents determining the strength and progress of the mycoparasitic attack. However, expression of most secondary metabolism-associated genes requires specific cues, as they are silent under routine laboratory conditions due to their maintenance in an inactive heterochromatin state.

Identification and evaluation of suitable reference genes for RT-qPCR analyses in Trichoderma atroviride under varying light conditions.

Background: Trichoderma atroviride is a competitive soil-borne mycoparasitic fungus with extensive applications as a biocontrol agent in plant protection. Despite its importance and application potential, reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis in T. atroviride have not been evaluated.

Light-Induced Changes in Secondary Metabolite Production of .

Many studies aim at maximizing fungal secondary metabolite production but the influence of light during cultivation has often been neglected. Here, we combined an untargeted isotope-assisted liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach with standardized cultivation of under three defined light regimes (darkness (PD), reduced light (RL) exposure, and 12/12 h light/dark cycle (LD)) to systematically determine the effect of light on secondary metabolite production. Comparative analyses revealed a similar metabolite profile upon cultivation in PD and RL, whereas LD treatment had an inhibiting effect on both the number and abundance of metabolites.

qRAT: an R-based stand-alone application for relative expression analysis of RT-qPCR data.

Background: Reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) is a well-established method for analysing gene expression. Most RT-qPCR experiments in the field of microbiology aim for the detection of transcriptional changes by relative quantification, which means the comparison of the expression level of a specific gene between different samples by the application of a calibration condition and internal reference genes. Due to the numerous data processing procedures and factors that can influence the final result, relative expression analysis and interpretation of RT-qPCR data are still not trivial and often necessitate the use of multiple separate software packages capable of performing specific functions.