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Parasitism of Trichoderma on Meloidogyne javanica and role of the gelatinous matrix

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Abstract

Trichoderma (T. asperellum-203, 44 and GH11; T. atroviride-IMI 206040 and T. harzianum-248) parasitism on Meloidogyne javanica life stages was examined in vitro. Conidium attachment and parasitism differed beween the fungi. Egg masses, their derived eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) were parasitized by Trichoderma asperellum-203, 44, and T. atroviride following conidium attachment. Trichoderma asperellum-GH11 attached to the nematodes but exhibited reduced penetration, whereas growth of T. harzianum-248 attached to egg masses was inhibited. Only a few conidia of the different fungi were attached to eggs and J2s without gelatinous matrix; the eggs were penetrated and parasitized by few hyphae, while J2s were rarely parasitized by the fungi. The gelatinous matrix specifically induced J2 immobilization by T. asperellum-203, 44 and T. atroviride metabolites that immobilized the J2s. A constitutive-GFP-expressing T. asperellum-203 construct was used to visualize fungal penetration of the nematodes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of coiling and appressorium-like structures upon attachment and parasitism by T. asperellum-203 and T. atroviride. Gelatinous matrix agglutinated T. asperellum-203 and T. atroviride conidia, a process that was Ca2+-dependent. Conidium agglutination was inhibited by carbohydrates, including fucose, as was conidium attachment to the nematodes. All but T. harzianum could grow on the gelatinous matrix, which enhanced conidium germination. A biomimetic system based on gelatinous-matrix-coated nylon fibers demonstrated the role of the matrix in parasitism: T. asperellum-203 and T. atroviride conidia attached specifically to the gelatinous-matrix-coated fibers and parasitic growth patterns, such as coiling, branching and appressoria-like structures, were induced in both fungi, similarly to those observed during nematode parasitism. All Trichoderma isolates exhibited nematode biocontrol activity in pot experiments with tomato plants. Parasitic interactions were demonstrated in planta: females and egg masses dissected from tomato roots grown in T. asperellum-203-treated soil were examined and found to be parasitized by the fungus. This study demonstrates biocontrol activities of Trichoderma isolates and their parasitic capabilities on M. javanica, elucidating the importance of the gelatinous matrix in the fungal parasitism.

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Abbreviations

gm:

Gelatinous matrix

J2:

Second-stage juveniles

RKN:

Root-knot nematode

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Mr. Adnan Ismaiel (US Department of Agriculture, ARS, Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA) for providing fungal sequences. This work was kindly supported by the Dr. Eva Ehrlich memorial fund, Israel.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nematology, ARO, Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet-Dagan, 50250, Israel

    Edna Sharon, Meira Bar-Eyal, Harel Nagan & Yitzhak Spiegel

  2. Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel

    Ilan Chet

  3. Department of Plant Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

    Ada Viterbo

  4. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, US Department of Agriculture, ARS, Rm. 304, B-011a, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    Gary J. Samuels

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  1. Edna Sharon
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  2. Ilan Chet
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  3. Ada Viterbo
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  4. Meira Bar-Eyal
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  5. Harel Nagan
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  6. Gary J. Samuels
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  7. Yitzhak Spiegel
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Correspondence to Edna Sharon.

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Sharon, E., Chet, I., Viterbo, A. et al. Parasitism of Trichoderma on Meloidogyne javanica and role of the gelatinous matrix. Eur J Plant Pathol 118, 247–258 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-007-9140-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-007-9140-x

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