From the fungus Trichoderma sp., we isolated seven novel 18-residue peptaibols, neoatroviridins E-K (1-7), and six new 14-residue peptaibols, harzianins NPDG J-O (8-13). Additionally, four previously characterized 18-residue peptaibols neoatroviridins A-D (14-17) were also identified. The structural configurations of the newly identified peptaibols (1-13) were determined by comprehensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS/MS) data. Their absolute configurations were further determined using Marfey's method. Notably, compounds 12 and 13 represent the first 14-residue peptaibols containing an acidic amino acid residue. In antimicrobial assessments, all 18-residue peptaibols (1-7, 14-17) exhibited moderate inhibitory activities against Staphylococcus aureus 209P, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 8-32 μg·mL^-1. Moreover, compound 9 exhibited moderate inhibitory effect on Candida albicans FIM709, with a MIC value of 16 μg·mL^-1.
Peptaibols/chemistry* ; Trichoderma/metabolism* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology* ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization/methods*

Root rot is a microbial disease that is difficult to control and can result in serious losses in the planting of most Chinese medicinal materials. As high as 87.6% of roots or rhizomes of Chinese medicinal materials are susceptible to root rot, which seriously affects the cultivation development of Chinese medicinal materials. Trichoderma fungi, possessing biological control functions, can induce plants to improve their resistance to microbial diseases, promote plant growth, and effectively reduce the losses caused by various microbial diseases on cultivation. At present, Trichoderma is rarely used in the cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials, so it has great application potential for the prevention and control of root rot diseases in farmed Chinese medicinal materials. Based on the above situation, after comparison and discussion, it is believed that compared with chemical control and physical control, biological control of root rot diseases of Chinese medicinal materials is more efficient and meets the development needs of Chinese medicinal materials ecological planting in China. This paper reviewed the progress in the research and application of Trichoderma in the control of root rot diseases in the root and rhizome of farmed Chinese medicinal materials in the past 10 years and found that most of the current research on the biological control of root rot diseases in Chinese medicinal materials was mostly limited to the verification of the inhibitory effect of Trichoderma strains on the growth of the pathogenic microbes. Studies on the induction effect of Trichoderma on Chinese medicinal materials are not in depth. Studies on the responding mechanisms of most Chinese medicinal materials to Trichoderma are highly absent. Moreover, there are few reports on field experiments, which indicates that there is a long way to go before Trichoderma is widely applied in the farming practice of Chinese medicinal materials. To sum up, this paper aimed to link the present and the future and advocated further relevant research and more experiments on the application of Trichoderma in the farming of Chinese medicinal materials.
Agriculture ; Farms ; Plant Diseases/microbiology* ; Rhizome ; Trichoderma

Aims: The main aim of the study was to evaluate some methods of application of Aspergillus niger AD1 and Trichoderma hamatum T-113 for enhancing the growth and yield of wheat var. Ibaa99 in pots and field conditions. Methodology and results: Plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) loaded with peat moss were used at a rate of 100, 150 and 200 mL pot-1 or m-2 in filed soil; seed treatment (coating) with fungi suspension 19 × 107, soil treatment and combination of all the three methods was employed in the study. Wheat seeds were sown in pots and field plots during 2018-2019, and data regarding various growth and yield attributes were recorded. In both pot and field trials, the results revealed that the best treatments for the desired plant growth and yield attributes were peat moss 150 mL alone or in combination with soil and seed treatments. The soil physicochemical parameters were also improved after inoculation with selected fungal isolates in different application methods compared with un-inoculated control treatment in both pot and field conditions. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The PGPF play a vital role represented phytoremediation, phytostimulation and bio-fertilization. The isolates of PGPF, which were applied with peat moss at 150 mL to the pot and in the field alone or combined with seed treatment and soil application, were significantly the best effective method for improving wheat attributes.
Aspergillus niger ; Trichoderma ; Plant Growth Regulators

Aims: Meloidogyne incognita adversely affects numerous crop plants worldwide. Therefore, the modern world has been moving towards biocontrol methods to prevent nematode attacks. This study was aimed to (i) investigate the potential use of Trichoderma harzianum NFCF160 and T. virens Isf-77 in managing M. incognita in soil and (ii) identify trapping mechanisms employed by both Trichoderma strains to suppress M. incognita. Methodology and results: Three weeks old, Basella alba L. plants were subjected to five different treatments. The above and below ground growth parameters and the galling indices of these plants were measured every four weeks for three sampling times. Trapping mechanisms employed by Trichoderma strains were examined following plate assays. Plants treated with T. harzianum NFCF160 and T. virens Isf-77 had significantly higher values for the total number of leaves (34 ± 2.84) and (27 ± 2.61), fresh weight of the shoot (81 ± 9.51 g) and (91 ± 9.70 g), dry weight of the shoot (71 ± 5.24 g) and (62 ± 5.81 g), respectively eight weeks after inoculation of M. incognita. Significantly low galling indices (2 and 2) were recorded in B. alba treated with Trichoderma strains. Both Trichoderma strains exhibited various nematode-trapping mechanisms, such as non-constricting rings and adhesive spores. Conclusion, significance and impact of study This investigation highlighted the potential of both Trichoderma strains as biocontrol agents to control M. incognita effect in sustainable agriculture.
Tylenchoidea ; Trichoderma ; Soil Microbiology

Aims: The application of beneficial microbes is a suitable alternative to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers for agriculture. This study was aimed to evaluate the potential of a selected Trichoderma strain as a biocontrol agent against Rhizoctonia sp. and as a biofertilizer to improve paddy growth. Methodology and results: Four Bipolaris strains were identified via DNA barcoding as the cause of brown spot disease, whereas two Rhizoctonia strains were similarly identified as the cause of sheath blight disease in Brunei Darussalam. Eight Trichoderma strains were initially screened using confrontation assay and were found to substantially inhibit the growth of Rhizoctonia sp. Hybrid rice named BDR5 was treated with Trichoderma sp. UBDFM01 and/or Rhizoctonia sp. It was found that the selected strain showed the potential as a biofertilizer by significantly increasing the vigour index I, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and dry shoot weight of the rice plants. The pathogen negatively affected the plants by significantly reducing the vigour index II, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll a/b ratio, total chlorophyll, and total weight of grains. Trichoderma strain showed the potential as a biocontrol agent by significantly diminishing the negative effects of the pathogen on the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll a/b ratio and total chlorophyll. Conclusion, significance and impact of study This study highlights the potential of Trichoderma sp. UBDFM01 as a biocontrol agent against Rhizoctonia sp. and also as a biofertilizer for rice plants. In addition, this study is the first to provide DNA-based evidence of Bipolaris sp. and Rhizoctonia sp. as the fungi that caused rice diseases in Brunei Darussalam.
Trichoderma ; Biological Control Agents ; Fertilizers--microbiology

Aims: Knowledge of the Trichoderma taxa is important for both control efficiency and environmental conservation. Therefore, the objective of this study is to isolate and identify Trichoderma species from various rhizosphere soil samples using phenotypic and molecular characterization. Methodology and results: Native Trichoderma spp. were isolated from agricultural fields in 17 sites from seven states of Malaysia. These isolates were characterized via morphological observation and molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the translation elongation factor-1α (tef1-α) gene. About 42 isolates were classified into eight Trichoderma species, which are Trichoderma asperellum, T. hamatum, T. harzianum, T. koningiopsis, T. rodmanii, T. spirale, T. viride and T. virens. Comparison of DNA sequences of tef1-α showed that the isolates were 98-100% similar to respective Trichoderma species from GenBank, thus confirming the fungal identity. Phylogenetic trees of maximum likelihood (ML) dataset of tef1-α inferred that the isolates were clustered according to species. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Findings in the present study will be beneficial for the purposes of biodiversity conservation and plant disease management using biocontrol agents.
Trichoderma--isolation & ; purification ; Rhizosphere

Trichoderma spp. is a kind of filamentous fungi with important biocontrol value. Twelve strains of Trichoderma spp. were isolated from the soils of different types of crops in Shaoxing, Zhejiang and Foshan, Guangdong. The antagonistic resistance to Fusarium oxysporum was compared by plate confrontation test. The further analysis of volatile secondary metabolites for two strains were carried out using HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis. The results showed that T. asperellum ZJSX5003 and GDFS1009 had fast growth ability, and the inhibition effects on F. oxysporum were 73% and 74% respectively. Six identical volatile metabolites were detected as follows 2-Methyl-1-propanol, 3-Methyl-1-butanol, 3-Methyl-3-buten-1-ol, Acetyl methyl carbinol, Butane-2,3-diol and 6-n-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one (6-PAP). Among them, 6-PAP was validated to have a higher inhibitory effect on F. oxysporum in vitro. This study will provide basis for the development of biocontrol agents with metabolites of Trichoderma, such as 6-PAP.
Antibiosis ; Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Fusarium ; drug effects ; physiology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Trichoderma ; chemistry ; metabolism

Armillaria gallica is a facultative parasitic fungus which is the only nutrient source of Gastrodia elata during its cultivation.Chitinase,as a glycosidic hydrolytic enzyme,plays an important role in the growth,development,stress tolerance and symbiotic signal transduction of A. gallica. There were 22 chitinase genes in A. gallica. Bioinformatics analysis of amino acid sequence of these chitinase genes revealed that 12 chitinase genes contained glycosidase 18 family( GH18) domain. Chitinase amino acid sequences of A. gallica,A. ostoyae,G. elata,Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Trichoderma harzianum were analyzed byclustering trees,so as to further predict the gene function of chitinase in A. gallica. Induction of A. gallica branching with strigolactone analogue GR24,high-throughput sequencing technology based on the induction of branch group( MHJ1),uninduced branch group( MHJ2) and blank control group( MHJ3) is used to detect the expression quantity,the transcription level data of 22 chitinase genes were obtained and the heat map was generated for expression pattern analysis. It was found that 8 genes may be involved in physiological processes such as A. gallica branching,cell wall degradation and remodeling. In this paper,the function of chitinase gene in A. gallica was just preliminarily analyzed and predicted.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Armillaria ; Chitinases ; Computational Biology ; Trichoderma

Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30 is widely used in industrial cellulase production, and development of cellulase hyper-producer is of great importance for economic lignocellulosic biorefinery. In this study, T. reesei Rut-C30 was engineered with an artificial zinc finger proteins (AZFPs) library. Two mutants T. reesei M1 and M2 with improved cellulase production were obtained. Compared to the parent strain, the filter paper activity (FPase) of T. reesei M1 and M2 increased 100% and 53%, respectively. In addition, the total amount of extracellular protein from the M1 mutant increased 69%, whereas the endo-β-glucanase (CMCase) activity of the M2 mutant is 64% higher compared to the parental strain. Furthermore, RT-qPCR analysis showed that the major cellulase genes exhibited significantly increased expression in both mutants, but different patterns were observed in the two mutants. On the other hand, the cellulase transcriptional repressor ace1 was down-regulated in both mutants, but the transcription level of the activator xyr1 was only up-regulated in the strain M1. These results demonstrated that different AZFPs exert diverse regulatory mechanisms on cellulase production in T. reesei. Analysis of the target genes of AZFPs from T. reesei M1 and M2 will not only benefit further exploration of the regulatory mechanisms of cellulase biosynthesis in T. reesei, but also enable development of cellulase hyper-producing strains by metabolic engineering.
Cellulase ; Gene Library ; Transcription Factors ; Trichoderma ; Zinc Fingers

The Great Sebkha of Oran is a closed depression located in northwestern of Algeria. Despite the ranking of this sebkha among the wetlands of global importance by Ramsar Convention in 2002, no studies on the fungal community in this area have been carried out. In our study, samples were collected from two different regions. The first region is characterized by halophilic vegetation and cereal crops and the second by a total absence of vegetation. The isolated strains were identified morphologically then by molecular analysis. The biotechnological interest of the strains was evaluated by testing their ability to grow at different concentration of NaCl and to produce extracellular enzymes (i.e., lipase, amylase, protease, and cellulase) on solid medium. The results showed that the soil of sebkha is alkaline, with the exception of the soil of cereal crops that is neutral, and extremely saline. In this work, the species Gymnoascus halophilus, Trichoderma gamsii, the two phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium brachygibbosum and Penicillium allii, and the teleomorphic form of P. longicatenatum observed for the first time in this species, were isolated for the first time in Algeria. The halotolerance test revealed that the majority of the isolated are halotolerant. Wallemia sp. and two strains of G. halophilus are the only obligate halophilic strains. All strains are capable to secrete at least one of the four tested enzymes. The most interesting species presenting the highest enzymatic index were Aspergillus sp. strain A4, Chaetomium sp. strain H1, P. vinaceum, G. halophilus, Wallemia sp. and Ustilago cynodontis.
Algeria ; Amylases ; Aspergillus ; Chaetomium ; Depression ; Edible Grain ; Fungi ; Fusarium ; Lipase ; Penicillium ; Salt-Tolerance ; Soil ; Trichoderma ; Ustilago ; Wetlands