Abstract
Several species of the soil borne fungus of the genus Trichoderma are known to be versatile, opportunistic plant symbionts and are the most successful biocontrol agents used in today’s agriculture. To be successful in field conditions, the fungus must endure varying climatic conditions. Studies have indicated that a high atmospheric temperature coupled with low humidity is a major factor in the inconsistent performance of Trichoderma under field conditions. Understanding the molecular modulations associated with Trichoderma that persist and deliver under abiotic stress conditions will aid in exploiting the value of these organisms for such uses. In this study, a comparative proteomic analysis, using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF-TOF) mass spectrometry, was used to identify proteins associated with thermotolerance in two thermotolerant isolates of Trichoderma: T. longibrachiatum 673, TaDOR673 and T. asperellum 7316, TaDOR7316; with 32 differentially expressed proteins being identified. Sequence homology and conserved domains were used to identify these proteins and to assign a probable function to them. The thermotolerant isolate, TaDOR673, seemed to employ the stress signaling MAPK pathways and heat shock response pathways to combat the stress condition, whereas the moderately tolerant isolate, TaDOR7316, seemed to adapt to high-temperature conditions by reducing the accumulation of misfolded proteins through an unfolded protein response pathway and autophagy. In addition, there were unique, as well as common, proteins that were differentially expressed in the two isolates studied.
Highlights
Fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma account for more than 60% of all registered biopesticides [1]
We compared the proteins profiles of two different thermotolerant isolates of Trichoderma under heat stress. These isolates differed in their level of thermotolerance, and, as hypothesized, we identified some putative heat stress responsive proteins that are probably responsible for the thermotolerance levels of TaDOR673 and TaDOR7316
We propose that in TaDOR673, under heat stress, the organism undergoes cell wall changes and metabolic changes, such as increased chitin production and increased enolase and trehalose biosynthesis
Summary
Fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma account for more than 60% of all registered biopesticides [1]. Soil hydrological conditions influences the growth and antagonistic properties of Trichoderma [7,8] and soil temperature affects the radial extension of this fungus [9]. Agricultural practices such as solarization of the soil have been widely used to eradicate infectious pathogens from soil [10], as these practices weaken the potential of pathogens to damage crops and increase their susceptibility to bio-agents. Such practices subject Trichoderma, if applied to the soil, to high-temperature stress. There is a synergistic benefit in combining sub-lethal solarization with thermotolerant bioagents, especially Trichoderma, to suppress crop-damaging, temperature-tolerant pathogens in soil [11,12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
