TY  - JOUR
AB  - The genus Trichoderma (Hypocreaceae, Ascomycota) compromises over 400 known species, that are found in various soils, on plant surfaces and as plant endophytes. Interactions between the mycoparasitic Trichoderma spp. and beneficial ectomycorrhizal fungi such as Laccaria bicolor (Hydnangiaceae, Basidiomycota) can influence the structure of fungal communities and plant symbioses. In this study, we conducted in vitro dual-culture experiments involving L. bicolor and four Trichoderma strains (T. harzianum WM24a1, MS8a1, ES8g1, and T. atrobrunneum) to analyze their metabolic responses in relation to varying degrees of physical contact. Using integrated analyses of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hyphal metabolomes, and secreted exudates, we uncovered strong contact- and strain-dependent growth inhibition patterns: Trichoderma growth was suppressed under shared headspace, whereas L. bicolor was more strongly inhibited under direct contact. Metabolomic profiling revealed distinct and strain-specific alterations in both VOC and soluble metabolite profiles during co-cultivation, with hundreds of discriminant mass features affected. Key metabolic pathways, including amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, showed differential enrichment depending on the interaction stage and fungal partner. These results demonstrate that Trichoderma-Laccaria interactions are mediated by dynamic, contact-specific chemical reprogramming and suggest that fungal recognition and competition involve coordinated changes in both volatile and non-volatile metabolite production. Our findings provide a foundation for exploring how such antagonistic interactions may influence tripartite communication in plant-associated microbial networks. They also highlight the potential role of both emitted and secreted fungal metabolites in shaping interaction dynamics through putative non-self-recognition mechanisms.
AU  - Sivaprakasam Padmanaban, P.B.
AU  - Stange, P.*
AU  - Weber, B.
AU  - Ghirardo, A.
AU  - Pritsch, K.
AU  - Karl, T.*
AU  - Benz, J.P.*
AU  - Rosenkranz, M.
AU  - Schnitzler, J.-P.
C1  - 75220
C2  - 57862
TI  - Strain and contact-dependent metabolomic reprogramming reveals distinct interaction strategies between Laccaria bicolor and Trichoderma.
JO  - Fungal Biol. Biotechnol.
VL  - 12
IS  - 1
PY  - 2025
SN  - 2054-3085
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - BACKGROUND: The application of plant-beneficial microorganisms as bio-fertilizer and biocontrol agents has gained traction in recent years, as both agriculture and forestry are facing the challenges of poor soils and climate change. Trichoderma spp. are gaining popularity in agriculture and forestry due to their multifaceted roles in promoting plant growth through e.g. nutrient translocation, hormone production, induction of plant systemic resistance, but also direct antagonism of other fungi. However, the mycotrophic nature of the genus bears the risk of possible interference with other native plant-beneficial fungi, such as ectomycorrhiza, in the rhizosphere. Such interference could yield unpredictable consequences for the host plants of these ecosystems. So far, it remains unclear, whether Trichoderma is able to differentiate between plant-beneficial and plant-pathogenic fungi during the process of plant colonization. RESULTS: We investigated whether Trichoderma spp. can differentiate between beneficial ectomycorrhizal fungi (represented by Laccaria bicolor and Hebeloma cylindrosporum) and pathogenic fungi (represented by Fusarium graminearum and Alternaria alternata) in different confrontation scenarios, including a newly developed olfactometer "race tube"-like system. Using two independent species, T. harzianum and T. atrobrunneum, with plant-growth-promoting and immune-stimulating properties towards Populus x canescens, our study revealed robustly accelerated growth towards phytopathogens, while showing a contrary response to ectomycorrhizal fungi. Transcriptomic analyses identified distinct genetic programs during interaction corresponding to the lifestyles, emphasizing the expression of mycoparasitism-related genes only in the presence of phytopathogens. CONCLUSION: The findings reveal a critical mode of fungal community interactions belowground and suggest that Trichoderma spp. can distinguish between fungal partners of different lifestyles already at a distance. This sheds light on the entangled interactions of fungi in the rhizosphere and emphasizes the potential benefits of using Trichoderma spp. as a biocontrol agent and bio-fertilizer in tree plantations.
AU  - Stange, P.*
AU  - Kersting, J.*
AU  - Sivaprakasam Padmanaban, P.B.
AU  - Schnitzler, J.-P.
AU  - Rosenkranz, M.
AU  - Karl, T.*
AU  - Benz, J.P.*
C1  - 71660
C2  - 56355
TI  - The decision for or against mycoparasitic attack by Trichoderma spp. is taken already at a distance in a prey-specific manner and benefits plant-beneficial interactions.
JO  - Fungal Biol. Biotechnol.
VL  - 11
IS  - 1
PY  - 2024
SN  - 2054-3085
ER  -