A Pipeline to Investigate Fungal–Fungal Interactions: <i>Trichoderma</i> Isolates against Plant-Associated Fungi
Soil fungi play essential roles in ecosystems, forming complex interaction networks with bacteria, yeasts, other fungi, or plants. In the framework of biocontrol strategies, <i>Trichoderma</i>-based fungicides are at the forefront of research as an alternative to synthetic ones. However,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/4/461 |
| _version_ | 1797604771849306112 |
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| author | Marianna Dourou Caterina Anna Maria La Porta |
| author_facet | Marianna Dourou Caterina Anna Maria La Porta |
| author_sort | Marianna Dourou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil fungi play essential roles in ecosystems, forming complex interaction networks with bacteria, yeasts, other fungi, or plants. In the framework of biocontrol strategies, <i>Trichoderma</i>-based fungicides are at the forefront of research as an alternative to synthetic ones. However, the impact of introducing new microbial strain(s) on the soil microbiome of a habitat is not well-explored. Aiming to identify a quantitative method to explore the complex fungal interactions, we isolated twelve fungi from three Italian vineyards and identified three strains of the <i>Trichoderma</i> genus in addition to nine more plant-associated fungi of different genera. Investigating in dual nucleation assay fungal–fungal interactions, we recognised two types of interaction: neutral or antagonistic. All three <i>Trichoderma</i> strains displayed a slight inhibitory behaviour against themselves. <i>Trichoderma</i> strains showed a mutually intermingling growth with <i>Aspergillus aculeatus</i> and <i>Rhizopus arrhizus</i> but antagonistic behaviour against the plant pathogens <i>Alternaria</i> sp., <i>Fusarium ramigenum</i>, and <i>Botrytis caroliniana</i>. Yet, in some cases, antagonistic behaviour by <i>Trichoderma</i> fungi was also observed against plant-promoting fungi (e.g., <i>Aspergillus piperis</i> and <i>Penicillium oxalicum</i>). Our study highlights the importance of studying the interactions between fungi, aiming to clarify better the impact of fungal-based biological fungicides in the soil communities, and offers a pipeline for further applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:52:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e69beec07c40410cbf56f1ece835bcbb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:52:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-e69beec07c40410cbf56f1ece835bcbb2023-11-17T19:58:28ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2023-04-019446110.3390/jof9040461A Pipeline to Investigate Fungal–Fungal Interactions: <i>Trichoderma</i> Isolates against Plant-Associated FungiMarianna Dourou0Caterina Anna Maria La Porta1Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, ItalySoil fungi play essential roles in ecosystems, forming complex interaction networks with bacteria, yeasts, other fungi, or plants. In the framework of biocontrol strategies, <i>Trichoderma</i>-based fungicides are at the forefront of research as an alternative to synthetic ones. However, the impact of introducing new microbial strain(s) on the soil microbiome of a habitat is not well-explored. Aiming to identify a quantitative method to explore the complex fungal interactions, we isolated twelve fungi from three Italian vineyards and identified three strains of the <i>Trichoderma</i> genus in addition to nine more plant-associated fungi of different genera. Investigating in dual nucleation assay fungal–fungal interactions, we recognised two types of interaction: neutral or antagonistic. All three <i>Trichoderma</i> strains displayed a slight inhibitory behaviour against themselves. <i>Trichoderma</i> strains showed a mutually intermingling growth with <i>Aspergillus aculeatus</i> and <i>Rhizopus arrhizus</i> but antagonistic behaviour against the plant pathogens <i>Alternaria</i> sp., <i>Fusarium ramigenum</i>, and <i>Botrytis caroliniana</i>. Yet, in some cases, antagonistic behaviour by <i>Trichoderma</i> fungi was also observed against plant-promoting fungi (e.g., <i>Aspergillus piperis</i> and <i>Penicillium oxalicum</i>). Our study highlights the importance of studying the interactions between fungi, aiming to clarify better the impact of fungal-based biological fungicides in the soil communities, and offers a pipeline for further applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/4/461<i>Trichoderma</i>plant-pathogenic fungimutually intermingling growthantagonismnucleation dynamic assay |
| spellingShingle | Marianna Dourou Caterina Anna Maria La Porta A Pipeline to Investigate Fungal–Fungal Interactions: <i>Trichoderma</i> Isolates against Plant-Associated Fungi Journal of Fungi <i>Trichoderma</i> plant-pathogenic fungi mutually intermingling growth antagonism nucleation dynamic assay |
| title | A Pipeline to Investigate Fungal–Fungal Interactions: <i>Trichoderma</i> Isolates against Plant-Associated Fungi |
| title_full | A Pipeline to Investigate Fungal–Fungal Interactions: <i>Trichoderma</i> Isolates against Plant-Associated Fungi |
| title_fullStr | A Pipeline to Investigate Fungal–Fungal Interactions: <i>Trichoderma</i> Isolates against Plant-Associated Fungi |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Pipeline to Investigate Fungal–Fungal Interactions: <i>Trichoderma</i> Isolates against Plant-Associated Fungi |
| title_short | A Pipeline to Investigate Fungal–Fungal Interactions: <i>Trichoderma</i> Isolates against Plant-Associated Fungi |
| title_sort | pipeline to investigate fungal fungal interactions i trichoderma i isolates against plant associated fungi |
| topic | <i>Trichoderma</i> plant-pathogenic fungi mutually intermingling growth antagonism nucleation dynamic assay |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/4/461 |
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