title: Multiple roles and effects of a novel Trichoderma hydrophobin.
abstract: Fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma are among the most active and ecologically successful microbes found in natural environments, because they are able to use a variety of substrates and affect the growth of other microbes and virtually any plant species. We isolated and characterized a novel type II hydrophobin secreted by the biocontrol strain MK1 of Trichoderma longibrachiatum. The corresponding gene (Hytlo1) has a multiple role in the Trichoderma-plant-pathogen three-way interaction, while the purified protein displayed a direct antifungal as well as a microbe-associated molecular pattern and a plant growth promotion (PGP) activity. Leaf infiltration with the hydrophobin systemically increased resistance to pathogens and activated defense-related responses involving reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase, oxylipin, phytoalexin, and pathogenesis-related protein formation or activity. The hydrophobin was found to enhance development of a variety of plants when applied at very low doses. It particularly stimulated root formation and growth, as demonstrated also by transient expression of the encoding gene in tobacco and tomato. Targeted knock-out of Hytlo1 significantly reduced both antagonistic and PGP effect of the wild-type strain. We conclude that this protein represents a clear example of a molecular factor developed by Trichoderma spp. to establish a mutually beneficial interaction with the colonized plant.
authors.forename: Michelina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lanzuise
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Sheridan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vinale
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Varlese
authors.forename: Gelsomina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manganiello
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascale
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scala
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Turrà
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scala
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lorito
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000502:physiology*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000502:physiology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins