1,721,047 research outputs found
Enzymatic functions and mycoparasitism vs sclerotia in Trichoderma
No full textThe mycoparasitic activity of Trichoderma spp. against sclerotial phytopathogenic fungi is a powerful tool for a biocontrol agent, since these highly resistant vegetative structures represent the pathogen primary survival form in soil.
Parasitic interactions established by Trichoderma against sclerotial fungi have been mainly investigated by histological and biochemical analysis. Several enzymatic activities have been related to sclerotia mycoparasitism, such as enzymes degrading cell wall components (chitinase, cellulase) or phenolic compounds (laccase, lignin and melanin degrading enzymes), protease and lipase.
The availability of a T. virens isolate (I10) transformed with genes coding for fluorescent proteins, red (I10DsRed) and green (I10GFP), allowed to monitor Trichoderma as antagonist in natural environments (1) and to follow in vitro sclerotia colonisation of Sclerotium rolfsii and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (2).
The present work aims to identify enzymatic activities related to the mycoparasitic ability by a genetic approach. Mutants of I10DsRed and I10GFP were selected for specific functions in order to evaluate their sclerotia colonisation ability. S. sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea were used as phytopathogenic sclerotia producing fungi. Mutants were screened for cellulases, chitinases, lipases, proteases and laccases activities; the correlation between defective traits and sclerotia colonisation is under investigation.
REFERENCES
1. Mikkelsen L, Sarrocco S, Lübeck M and Jensen DF. FEMS Microbiology Letters 223: 135-139 (2003).
2. Sarrocco S, Mikkelsen L, Vergara M, Jensen DFM, Lübeck M and Vannacci G. Mycological Research 110: 179-187 (2006)
Crotti P., Fiorini L., Ferraboli S., Baroncelli R., Sarrocco S., Vannacci G., Gobbi E. (2016) Velvet Complex and Gliotoxin Biosynthesis in Trichoderma afro-harzianum T6776.
No full textEditorial SI EJPP 2023 (Biocontrol using beneficial fungi and bacteria)
No full textAgriculture is facing several big challenges: to feed a constantly rising global population, to increase productivity based on sustainable agricultural, preserving the environment and population health. World commodities cultivating areas may be expanded to satisfy the global needs, but the use of natural areas for agriculture is negatively impacting on the environment, causing displacements of animals, disappearance of native flora and climate perturbations. All these conditions, in addition to the increasing demand of consumers for healthy, organic, pesticides free food, makes it quite difficult to feed an increasing population. Moreover, the impact of chemical pesticides on the environment and the reduction of their effectiveness against pathogens due to resistance development, generates the need for alternative strategies with less impact on the environment and reduced chances of resistance.Fil: Palazzini, Juan Manuel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación en Micología y Micotoxicología; ArgentinaFil: Sarrocco, Sabrina. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; Itali
Use of competitive filamentous fungi as an alternative approach for mycotoxin risk reduction in staple cereals: State of art and future perspectives
Full text linkAmong plant fungal diseases, those affecting cereals represent a huge problem in terms of food security and safety. Cereals, such as maize and wheat, are very often targets of mycotoxigenic fungi. The limited availability of chemical plant protection products and physical methods to control mycotoxigenic fungi and to reduce food and feed mycotoxin contamination fosters alternative approaches, such as the use of beneficial fungi as an active ingredient of biological control products. Competitive interactions, including both exploitation and interference competition, between pathogenic and beneficial fungi, are generally recognized as mechanisms to control plant pathogens populations and to manage plant diseases. In the present review, two examples concerning the use of competitive beneficial filamentous fungi for the management of cereal diseases are discussed. The authors retrace the history of the well-established use of non-aflatoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus flavus to prevent aflatoxin contamination in maize and give an overview of the potential use of competitive beneficial filamentous fungi to manage Fusarium Head Blight on wheat and mitigate fusaria toxin contamination. Although important steps have been made towards the development of microorganisms as active ingredients of plant protection products, a reasoned revision of the registration rules is needed to significantly reduce the chemical based plant protection products in agriculture
Genome resources for the endophytic fungus paraphaeosphaeria sporulosa
Full text linkParaphaeosphaeria genus includes plant pathogens or biocontrol agents as well as bioremediators and endophytic fungi. Paraphaeosphaeria sporulosa 10515 was isolated in 2013 as an endophyte of Festuca spp. collected on Mount Etna at 1,832 meters above sea level. Here, we present the first-draft whole-genome sequence of a P. sporulosa endophytic isolate. This data will be useful for future research on understanding the genetic bases of endophytism
Management of Plasmopara viticola: from the tradition to the innovation
No full textThis case explores grapevine downy mildew caused by Plasmopara viticola by examining its life cycle and impact on viticulture. It also briefly discusses the challenges and importance of breeding resistant grapevine varieties. Particular attention has been given to the use of chemical plant protection products and their limitations. Finally, this work illustrates the potential of the development of plant protection bioproducts as an alternative to chemical input for the management of grapevine downy milde
Insights on KP4 Killer Toxin-like Proteins of Fusarium Species in Interspecific Interactions
Full text linkKP4 killer toxins are secreted proteins that inhibit cell growth and induce cell death in target organisms. In Fusarium graminearum, KP4-like (KP4L) proteins contribute to fungal virulence in wheat seedling rot and are expressed during Fusarium head blight development. However, fungal KP4L proteins are also hypothesized to support fungal antagonism by permeabilizing cell walls of competing fungi to enable penetration of toxic compounds. Here, we report the differential expression patterns of F. graminearum KP4L genes (Fgkp4l-1, -2, -3 and -4) in a competitive interaction, using Trichoderma gamsii as the antagonist. The results from dual cultures indicate that Fgkp4l-3 and Fgkp4l-4 could participate in the recognition at the distance of the antagonist, while all Fgkp4l genes were highly activated in the pathogen during the physical interaction of both fungi. Only Fgkp4l-4 was up-regulated during the interaction with T. gamsii in wheat spikes. This suggests the KP4L proteins could participate in supporting F. graminearum interspecific interactions, even in living plant tissues. The distribution of KP4L orthologous within the genus Fusarium revealed they are more represented in species with broad host-plant range than in host-specific species. Phylogeny inferred provides evidence that KP4L genes evolved through gene duplications, gene loss and sequence diversification in the genus Fusarium
Editorial: Plant Disease Management in the Post-genomic Era: From Functional Genomics to Genome Editing
No full textDraft whole-genome sequence of Trichoderma gamsii T6085, a promising biocontrol agent of Fusarium head blight on wheat
No full textTrichoderma gamsii T6085 is a promising beneficial isolate whose effects consist of growth inhibition of the main agents causing Fusarium head blight, reduction of mycotoxin accumulation, competition for wheat debris, and reduction of the disease in both the lab and the field. Here, we present the first genome assembly of a T. gamsii isolate, providing a useful platform for the scientific community
Genome Resources of Verticillium dahliae VdGL16: the causal agent of vascular wilt on the invasive species Ailanthus altissima
No full textVerticillium species are known as plant pathogens responsible for wilt diseases in a large variety of dicotyledon plants and crops in many parts of the world. Here we present the draft genome sequence of Verticillium dahliae Kleb. (strain VdGL16) isolated in Italy from the invasive alien species Ailanthus altissima (Mill.; commonly known as tree-of-heaven) showing Verticillium wilt symptoms. The comparison between the newly sequenced genome with those publicly available revealed candidate genes putatively involved in pathogenicity. The genome represents a new useful source for future research on Verticillium genetics and biology as well as research on novel approaches in the control of A. altissima
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