Biocontrol efficacy of Trichoderma asperellum TA-1 against Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 and its underlying mechanisms
4 affiliations
- 1College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha
- 2Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha
- 3Hunan Provincial Branch, China National Tobacco Corporation, Changsha
- 4Shaoyang Branch, Hunan Provincial Company of China National Tobacco Corporation, Shaoyang
Abstract
Introduction: Rhizoctonia solani Kühn is a globally distributed soilborne pathogen responsible for severe diseases in various crops, including rice, wheat, tobacco, and maize, causing substantial economic losses. This study characterized a Trichoderma strain, TA-1, with significant biocontrol efficacy against tobacco target spot disease.
Methods: TA-1 was isolated and identified through morphological characterization and molecular analysis as Trichoderma asperellum . Qualitative assays were conducted to assess ammonia production and laccase, amylase, and protease activities. Solid-state fermentation trials were performed to optimize spore production conditions, and greenhouse assays were conducted to evaluate biocontrol efficacy. Microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transcriptomic analyses were used to characterize the interaction between TA-1 and R. solani AG-3.
Results: Qualitative assays indicated ammonia production and laccase, amylase, and protease activities in TA-1. The optimal spore production conditions were wheat bran substrate, 0.5% glucose, 1.5% ammonium sulfate, a water-to-substrate ratio of 1:1, and a fermentation duration of 6 days, under which the spore yield reached 4.74 × 10 ⁹ CFU/g dry substrate. Greenhouse assays showed that both TA-1 spore suspension and fermentation filtrate significantly suppressed disease symptoms caused by R. solani AG-3, with the spore suspension exhibiting stronger inhibition. Microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed clear mycoparasitic features during the TA-1–AG-3 interaction, including hyphal attachment and coiling, structural damage to pathogen hyphae, and colonization of the sclerotial surface. Transcriptomic analysis further identified strong upregulation of TrAFT101_005492 , encoding a CFEM domain protein (log ₂ FC = 4.99), and TrAFT101_000974 , encoding a lipoxygenase (log ₂ FC = 4.73), suggesting their potential association with the mycoparasitic interaction.
Discussion: Overall, T. asperellum TA-1 possesses broad antagonistic activity and considerable biocontrol potential, supporting its further evaluation as a biological control agent for sustainable disease management.
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BibTeX
@article{liu2026biocontrol,
title = {{Biocontrol efficacy of Trichoderma asperellum TA-1 against Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 and its underlying mechanisms}},
author = {Suoni Liu and Yonggang Xia and Can Wang and Bin Hu and Cixi Zhang and Bing Wang and Dong Li and Tianbo Liu and Qianjun Tang},
journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2026.1899737},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1899737/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Biocontrol efficacy of Trichoderma asperellum TA-1 against Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 and its underlying mechanisms
AU - Suoni Liu
AU - Yonggang Xia
AU - Can Wang
AU - Bin Hu
AU - Cixi Zhang
AU - Bing Wang
AU - Dong Li
AU - Tianbo Liu
AU - Qianjun Tang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - Frontiers in Microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1899737
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1899737/full
AB - Introduction: Rhizoctonia solani Kühn is a globally distributed soilborne pathogen responsible for severe diseases in various crops, including rice, wheat, tobacco, and maize, causing substantial economic losses. This study characterized a Trichoderma strain, TA-1, with significant biocontrol efficacy against tobacco target spot disease. Methods: TA-1 was isolated and identified through morphological characterization and molecular analysis as Trichoderma asperellum . Qualitative assays were conducted to assess ammonia production and laccase, amylase, and protease activities. Solid-state fermentation trials were performed to optimize spore production conditions, and greenhouse assays were conducted to evaluate biocontrol efficacy. Microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transcriptomic analyses were used to characterize the interaction between TA-1 and R. solani AG-3. Results: Qualitative assays indicated ammonia production and laccase, amylase, and protease activities in TA-1. The optimal spore production conditions were wheat bran substrate, 0.5% glucose, 1.5% ammonium sulfate, a water-to-substrate ratio of 1:1, and a fermentation duration of 6 days, under which the spore yield reached 4.74 × 10 ⁹ CFU/g dry substrate. Greenhouse assays showed that both TA-1 spore suspension and fermentation filtrate significantly suppressed disease symptoms caused by R. solani AG-3, with the spore suspension exhibiting stronger inhibition. Microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed clear mycoparasitic features during the TA-1–AG-3 interaction, including hyphal attachment and coiling, structural damage to pathogen hyphae, and colonization of the sclerotial surface. Transcriptomic analysis further identified strong upregulation of TrAFT101_005492 , encoding a CFEM domain protein (log ₂ FC = 4.99), and TrAFT101_000974 , encoding a lipoxygenase (log ₂ FC = 4.73), suggesting their potential association with the mycoparasitic interaction. Discussion: Overall, T. asperellum TA-1 possesses broad antagonistic activity and considerable biocontrol potential, supporting its further evaluation as a biological control agent for sustainable disease management.
SN - 1664-302X
ER -