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Title: THE ROLE OF HYDROLYTIC ENZYMES IN THE BIOCONTROL ACTIVITY OF TRICHODERMA VIRENS

Author
item KENERLEY, C. - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item BAEK, J. - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Howell, Charles - Charlie

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/7/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Strains of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma virens are effective biocontrol agents against a range of plant pathogens. The mechanisms that have been proposed to describe how mycoparasitic strains antagonize their hosts include the activity of cell-wall degrading enzymes, antibiosis, induction of host defense compounds, and competition for nutrients and/or infection sites. These mechanisms may work in concert such that synergisti interactions develop. Understanding the components of these mechanisms will greatly assist in further developing reliable and effective biocontrol agents. We have adopted a molecular approach in an effort to determine the role of several cell-wall degrading enzymes and membrane-altering compounds (antibiotics). The specific objectives of this research were to: 1) identify, isolate and clone genes that have the potential to enhance biocontrol activity, 2) determine the role of these genes in the biocontrol lactivity of T. virens, 3) construct strains of T. virens that over-express selected genes for enhanced biocontrol activity and 4) produce transgenic plants that express selected fungal genes involved in mycoparasitism.