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Trichoderma rhizosphere’s competency, endophytism and plant communication: A molecular approach

Mendoza, A.
Steyaert, Johanna M.
Cripps-Guazzone, Natalia
Nieto-Jacobo, Maria
Braithwaite, Mark
Lawry, Robert
Bienkowski, Damian
Brown, C.
McLean, Kirstin L.
Hill, Robert A.
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Date
2013-03
Type
Conference Contribution - published
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Abstract
Establishment of root symbiosis is one the key drivers of biocontrol success for members of the fungal genus Trichoderma. This root symbiosis is described as a two-step process, whereby Trichoderma species colonise the soil surrounding the root (rhizosphere) and then penetrate the root tissue and establish an endophytic relationship. The ability to colonise and then proliferate over time within the rhizosphere is termed rhizosphere competence (RC). There have been numerous reports of Trichoderma biocontrol strains which persist within the rhizosphere for the growing season of the crop plant. Our results strongly suggest that RC is widespread among members of the genus Trichoderma and that RC interactions are strain and host plant specific. For endophytes and their host plants to maintain a mutualistic relationship requires a constant molecular dialogue between the organisms involved. For example, the fungal-derived phytohormone, indole acetic acid (IAA), plays an important role in signalling between Trichoderma and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. There are however, additional, currently unknown, chemical signals which may be even more important for a positive interaction between Trichoderma and plants. By using a soil-maize-Trichoderma as a model system in in situ sterile conditions we are currently analysing the RC and endophytism transcriptomes of two Trichoderma species: T. virens and T. atroviride. Using a combination of bioinformatics, quantitative RT-PCR (for stage specific genetic markers from Trichoderma) and fluoro-labelled Trichoderma strains we are currently identifying and analysing promising Trichoderma candidates involved in endophytism and RC. A comprehensive panorama of the Trichoderma-soil-plant interaction will be discussed in this conference.
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