Serendipity in the wrestle between Trichoderma and Metarhizium

Publication date: Available online 16 January 2020Source: Fungal BiologyAuthor(s): Edgar Q.A. Medina, Ariel S. Oliveira, Humberto R. Medina, Drauzio E.N. RangelAbstractThe fungal species Trichoderma is frequently found in soil antagonizing plant-pathogenic fungi as well as parasitizing plant-pathogenic nematodes. Metarhizium species are insect-pathogenic fungi that are used throughout the world to control agricultural insect pests. Here, we determine whether the antagonism (A) of T. atroviride to M. robertsii during growth and spore formation can impact the stress biology of M. robertsii conidia. Cultures of M. robertsii were either produced without exposure to T. atroviride (Control) or in the presence of T. atroviride. M. robertsii was grown in dual culture with T. atroviride on potato dextrose agar (PDA) using the following treatments: 1) Trichoderma inoculated at the same time with Metarhizium (A0); 2) Trichoderma inoculated two days after the inoculation of Metarhizium (A2); 3) Trichoderma inoculated four days after Metarhizium (A4); 4) Trichoderma inoculated 6 days after Metarhizium (A6); 5) M. robertsii grown alone on PDA medium (control); and 6) M. robertsii grown alone on minimal medium (Czapek-Dox medium without sucrose) (MM). Germination of M. robertsii conidia from all six treatments was then assessed under osmotic, oxidative, UV-B, and thermal stress. M. robertsii conidia produced on MM were the most tolerant to all stress conditions. For all stress conditions, c...
Source: Fungal Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: research