The hex1 gene of Trichoderma simmonsii is involved in stress responses, biocontrol potential and wheat plant growth.

Woronin bodies are unique organelles in Pezizomycotina fungi that allow hyphae compartmentalization and prevent cytoplasmatic bleeding after mechanical injury. Several studies have related the peroxisomal protein HEX1, the major component of Woronin bodies with other biological processes such as hyphal growth, osmotic stress tolerance and pathogenicity. Trichoderma spp.

SARS-CoV-2 RNA Detection in Wastewater and Its Effective Correlation with Clinical Data during the Outbreak of COVID-19 in Salamanca.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are the final stage of the anthropogenic water cycle where a wide range of chemical and biological markers of human activity can be found. In COVID-19 disease contexts, wastewater surveillance has been used to infer community trends based on viral abundance and SARS-CoV-2 RNA variant composition, which has served to anticipate and establish appropriate protocols to prevent potential viral outbreaks. Numerous studies worldwide have provided reliable and robust tools to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, although due to the high dilution and degradation rate of the viral RNA in such samples, the detection limit of the pathogen has been a bottleneck for the proposed protocols so far.

Identification of Tomato microRNAs in Late Response to .

The tomato () is an important crop worldwide and is considered a model plant to study stress responses. Small RNAs (sRNAs), 21-24 nucleotides in length, are recognized as a conserved mechanism for regulating gene expression in eukaryotes. Plant endogenous sRNAs, such as microRNA (miRNA), have been involved in disease resistance.

Volatile Organic Compounds Regulated by the THCTF1 Transcription Factor Are Involved in Antifungal Activity and Beneficial Plant Responses.

The transcription factor THCTF1 from , previously linked to the production of 6-pentyl-2-pyran-2-one (6-PP) derivatives and antifungal activity against , has been related in this study to conidiation, production of an array of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and expression of methyltransferase genes. VOCs emitted by three strains (wild type T34, transformant ΔD1-38 that is disrupted in the gene encoding the transcription factor THCTF1, and ectopic integration transformant ΔJ3-16) were characterized by Proton Transfer Reaction-Quadrupole interface-Time-Of-Flight-Mass Spectrometry (PTR-Qi-TOF-MS). disruption affected the production of numerous VOCs such as the antifungal volatiles 2-pentyl furan and benzaldehyde which were under-emitted, and acetoine, a plant systemic defense inductor, which was over-emitted.

Trichoderma: a multipurpose, plant-beneficial microorganism for eco-sustainable agriculture.

Trichoderma is a cosmopolitan and opportunistic ascomycete fungal genus including species that are of interest to agriculture as direct biological control agents of phytopathogens. Trichoderma utilizes direct antagonism and competition, particularly in the rhizosphere, where it modulates the composition of and interactions with other microorganisms. In its colonization of plants, on the roots or as an endophyte, Trichoderma has evolved the capacity to communicate with the plant and produce numerous multifaceted benefits to its host.

Effect of on Wheat Plants' Biochemical and Molecular Responses, and Yield under Different Water Stress Conditions.

Eight strains were evaluated for their potential to protect wheat seedlings against severe (no irrigation within two weeks) water stress (WS). Considering the plant fresh weight and phenotype, T140, which displays 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase activity and which is able to produce several phytohormones, was selected. The molecular and biochemical results obtained from 4-week-old wheat seedlings linked T140 application with a downregulation in the WS-response genes, a decrease in antioxidant activities, and a drop in the proline content, as well as low levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde in response to severe WS.

Why Is the Correct Selection of Strains Important? The Case of Wheat Endophytic Strains of and .

The search for endophytic fungi in the roots of healthy wheat plants from a non-irrigation field trial allowed us to select 4 out of a total of 54 cultivable isolates belonging to the genus , identified as T136 and T139, T137, and T138. In vitro assays against the phytopathogenic fungus showed that the strains had the highest biocontrol potential and that T136 exhibited the highest cellulase and chitinase activities. Production patterns of eight phytohormones varied among the strains.

Phytohormone Production Profiles in Species and Their Relationship to Wheat Plant Responses to Water Stress.

The production of eight phytohormones by species is described, as well as the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase (ACCD) activity, which diverts the ethylene biosynthetic pathway in plants. The use of the strains T49, T68, T75 and T115 served to demonstrate the diverse production of the phytohormones gibberellins (GA) GA and GA, abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), auxin (indole-3-acetic acid: IAA) and the cytokinins (CK) dihydrozeatin (DHZ), isopenteniladenine (iP) and trans-zeatin (tZ) in this genus. Such production is dependent on strain and/or culture medium.

and the Plant Heritable Priming Responses.

There is no doubt that is an inhabitant of the rhizosphere that plays an important role in how plants interact with the environment. Beyond the production of cell wall degrading enzymes and metabolites, spp. can protect plants by inducing faster and stronger immune responses, a mechanism known as priming, which involves enhanced accumulation of dormant cellular proteins that function in intracellular signal amplification.

Microbiological Evaluation of the Disinfecting Potential of UV-C and UV-C Plus Ozone Generating Robots.

This study examined the microbicidal activity of ultraviolet (UV)-C irradiance (robot 1) and ozone generated at UV-C by low-pressure mercury vapor lamps (robot 2) adapted to mobile robotic devices for surface decontamination, which was achieved in less than 1 h. Depending on their wall structure and outer envelopes, many microorganisms display different levels of resistance to decontaminating agents. Thus, the need for novel disinfection approaches is further exacerbated by the increased prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, as well as the potential of novel microorganisms, with the ability to cause disease outbreaks.

Effect of Inorganic N Top Dressing and Seed-Inoculation on Crop Yield and the Shaping of Root Microbial Communities of Wheat Plants Cultivated Under High Basal N Fertilization.

Wheat crop production needs nitrogen (N) for ensuring yield and quality. High doses of inorganic N fertilizer are applied to soil before sowing (basal dressing), with additional doses supplied along the cultivation (top dressing). Here, a long-term wheat field trial (12 plots), including four conditions (control, N top dressing, T34 seed-inoculation, and top dressing plus T34) in triplicate, was performed to assess, under high basal N fertilization, the influence of these treatments on crop yield and root microbial community shaping.

Combined Comparative Genomics and Gene Expression Analyses Provide Insights into the Terpene Synthases Inventory in .

is a fungal genus comprising species used as biocontrol agents in crop plant protection and with high value for industry. The beneficial effects of these species are supported by the secondary metabolites they produce. Terpenoid compounds are key players in the interaction of spp.

Differential Response of Tomato Plants to the Application of Three Species When Evaluating the Control of Populations.

species are well known biocontrol agents that are able to induce responses in the host plants against an array of abiotic and biotic stresses. Here, we investigate, when applied to tomato seeds, the potential of strains belonging to three different species, T6, T25, and T34, to control the fully pathogenic strain pv. () DC3000, able to produce the coronatine (COR) toxin, and the COR-deficient strain DC3118 in tomato plants, and the molecular mechanisms by which the plant can modulate its systemic defense.

The Kelch Protein ThKEL1 Plays a Key Role in Root Colonization and the Induction of Systemic Defense in Brassicaceae Plants.

The fungal genus includes strains with biocontrol and/or biostimulant potential and is recognized as a source of genes with biotechnological value. In a previous study the Kelch domain protein, encoded by the gene of T34, was found to confer tolerance to salt stress when expressed in plants of . In the present work, we have overexpressed in rapeseed plants in order to generate an additional biotechnological tool for analyzing the role of this gene in -plant interactions.

Early Root Transcriptomic Changes in Wheat Seedlings Colonized by Under Different Inorganic Nitrogen Supplies.

Wheat is one of the most important crops worldwide. The use of plant growth promoting microorganisms, such as those of the genus , constitutes an alternative to chemical fertilizers, since they are cheaper and are not detrimental to the environment. However, the interaction between and wheat plants has been scarcely studied, at least at a molecular level.

Synthesis of Trichodermin Derivatives and Their Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities.

Trichothecene mycotoxins are recognized as highly bioactive compounds that can be used in the design of new useful bioactive molecules. In , the first specific step in trichothecene biosynthesis is carried out by a terpene cyclase, trichodiene synthase, that catalyzes the conversion of farnesyl diphosphate to trichodiene and is encoded by the gene. Overexpression of resulted in increased levels of trichodermin, a trichothecene-type toxin, which is a valuable tool in preparing new molecules with a trichothecene skeleton.

Trichoderma harzianum favours the access of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to non-host Brassicaceae roots and increases plant productivity.

The family Brassicaceae includes plants that are non-host for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) such as the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (arabidopsis) and the economically important crop plant Brassica napus (rapeseed). It is well known that Trichoderma species have the ability to colonize the rhizosphere of Brassicaceae plants, promoting growth and development as well as stimulating systemic defenses. The aim of the present work is to ascertain that Brassicaceae plants increase productivity when AMF and Trichoderma are combinedly applied, and how such an effect can be ruled.

Transcriptomic Analysis of Overgrowing Plant-Wilting Reveals the Role of a New M14 Metallocarboxypeptidase CPA1 in Biocontrol.

, a vascular-colonizing fungus, causes economically important wilt diseases in many crops, including olive trees. spp. have demonstrated an effective contribution as biocontrol agents against this pathogen through a variety of mechanisms that may involve direct mycoparasitism and antibiosis.

Distribution and Genetic Variability of Associated with Tomato Diseases in Algeria and a Biocontrol Strategy with Indigenous spp.

Fifty fungal isolates were sampled from diseased tomato plants as result of a survey conducted in seven tomato crop areas in Algeria from 2012 to 2015. Morphological criteria and PCR-based identification, using the primers PF02 and PF03, assigned 29 out of 50 isolates to (). The banding patterns amplified for genes and served to identify races 2 and 3 of f.

Involvement of the Transcriptional Coactivator ThMBF1 in the Biocontrol Activity of .

is a filamentous fungus well adapted to different ecological niches. Owing to its ability to antagonize a wide range of plant pathogens, it is used as a biological control agent in agriculture. Selected strains of are also able to increase the tolerance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses.

The Combination of and Chemical Fertilization Leads to the Deregulation of Phytohormone Networking, Preventing the Adaptive Responses of Tomato Plants to Salt Stress.

Plants have evolved effective mechanisms to avoid or reduce the potential damage caused by abiotic stresses. In addition to biocontrol abilities, genus fungi promote growth and alleviate the adverse effects caused by saline stress in plants. Morphological, physiological, and molecular changes were analyzed in salt-stressed tomato plants grown under greenhouse conditions in order to investigate the effects of chemical and biological fertilizations.

Tomato progeny inherit resistance to the nematode Meloidogyne javanica linked to plant growth induced by the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma atroviride.

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) are major crop pathogens worldwide. Trichoderma genus fungi are recognized biocontrol agents and a direct activity of Trichoderma atroviride (Ta) against the RKN Meloidogyne javanica (Mj), in terms of 42% reduction of number of galls (NG), 60% of number of egg masses and 90% of number of adult nematodes inside the roots, has been observed in tomato grown under greenhouse conditions. An in vivo split-root designed experiment served to demonstrate that Ta induces systemic resistance towards Mj, without the need for the organisms to be in direct contact, and significantly reduces NG (20%) and adult nematodes inside tomato roots (87%).

Nitrogen Metabolism and Growth Enhancement in Tomato Plants Challenged with Trichoderma harzianum Expressing the Aspergillus nidulans Acetamidase amdS Gene.

Trichoderma is a fungal genus that includes species that are currently being used as biological control agents and/or as biofertilizers. In addition to the direct application of Trichoderma spp. as biocontrol agents in plant protection, recent studies have focused on the beneficial responses exerted on plants, stimulating the growth, activating the defenses, and/or improving nutrient uptake.

The importance of chorismate mutase in the biocontrol potential of Trichoderma parareesei.

Species of Trichoderma exert direct biocontrol activity against soil-borne plant pathogens due to their ability to compete for nutrients and to inhibit or kill their targets through the production of antibiotics and/or hydrolytic enzymes. In addition to these abilities, Trichoderma spp. have beneficial effects for plants, including the stimulation of defenses and the promotion of growth.