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Title: Argonaute and Dicer are essential for communication between Trichoderma atroviride and fungal hosts during mycoparasitism

Journal Article · · Microbiology Spectrum
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [4]; ORCiD logo [5]; ;
  1. Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad-Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Cinvestav Campus Guanajuato, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
  2. Novo Nordisk Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
  3. Novo Nordisk Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark, The LatAmBio Initiative, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
  4. Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad-Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Cinvestav Campus Guanajuato, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, The LatAmBio Initiative, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, Plant and Microbial Biology Department, University of California, Berkeley, Carlifornia, USA, Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, Carlifornia, USA
  5. Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad-Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Cinvestav Campus Guanajuato, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, The LatAmBio Initiative, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico

ABSTRACT Trichoderma species are known for their mycoparasitic activity against phytopathogenic fungi that cause significant economic losses in agriculture. During mycoparasitism, Trichoderma spp. recognize molecules produced by the host fungus and release secondary metabolites and hydrolytic enzymes to kill and degrade the host’s cell wall. Here, we explored the participation of the Trichoderma atroviride RNAi machinery in the interaction with six phytopathogenic fungi of economic importance. We determined that both Argonaute-3 and Dicer-2 play an essential role during mycoparasitism. Using an RNA-Seq approach, we identified that perception, detox, and cell wall degradation depend on the T. atroviride -RNAi when interacting with Alternaria alternata, Rhizoctonia solani AG2 , and R. solani AG5. Furthermore, we constructed a gene co-expression network that provides evidence of two gene modules regulated by RNAi, which play crucial roles in essential processes during mycoparasitism. In addition, based on small RNA-seq, we conclude that siRNAs regulate amino acid and carbon metabolism and communication during the Trichoderma -host interaction. Interestingly, our data suggest that siRNAs might regulate allorecognition ( het ) and transport genes in a cross-species manner. Thus, these results reveal a fine-tuned regulation in T. atroviride dependent on siRNAs that is essential during the biocontrol of phytopathogenic fungi, showing a greater complexity of this process than previously established. IMPORTANCE There is an increasing need for plant disease control without chemical pesticides to avoid environmental pollution and resistance, and the health risks associated with the application of pesticides are increasing. Employing Trichoderma species in agriculture to control fungal diseases is an alternative plant protection strategy that overcomes these issues without utilizing chemical fungicides. Therefore, understanding the biocontrol mechanisms used by Trichoderma species to antagonize other fungi is critical. Although there has been extensive research about the mechanisms involved in the mycoparasitic capability of Trichoderma species, there are still unsolved questions related to how Trichoderma regulates recognition, attack, and defense mechanisms during interaction with a fungal host. In this work, we report that the Argonaute and Dicer components of the RNAi machinery and the small RNAs they process are essential for gene regulation during mycoparasitism by Trichoderma atroviride .

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
2318759
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2318771
Journal Information:
Microbiology Spectrum, Journal Name: Microbiology Spectrum Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 12; ISSN 2165-0497
Publisher:
American Society for MicrobiologyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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