title: Reproduction without sex: conidiation in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma.
abstract: Trichoderma spp. have served as models for asexual reproduction in filamentous fungi for over 50 years. Physical stimuli, such as light exposure and mechanical injury to the mycelium, trigger conidiation; however, conidiogenesis itself is a holistic response determined by the cell's metabolic state, as influenced by the environment and endogenous biological rhythms. Key environmental parameters are the carbon and nitrogen status and the C : N ratio, the ambient pH and the level of calcium ions. Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular biology of this fungus have revealed a conserved mechanism of environmental perception through the White Collar orthologues BLR-1 and BLR-2. Also implicated in the molecular regulation are the PacC pathways and the conidial regulator VELVET. Signal transduction cascades which link environmental signals to physiological outputs have also been revealed.
authors.affiliation: Bio-Protection Research Centre, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Johanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steyaert
authors.affiliation: Lincoln Ventures Limited, PO Box 133, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Weld
authors.affiliation: Bio-Protection Research Centre, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Artemio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Mendoza
authors.affiliation: Bio-Protection Research Centre, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D004777:Environment; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen