Comparative genome sequence analysis underscores mycoparasitism as the ancestral life style of Trichoderma

Genome Biol. 2011;12(4):R40. doi: 10.1186/gb-2011-12-4-r40. Epub 2011 Apr 18.

Abstract

Background: Mycoparasitism, a lifestyle where one fungus is parasitic on another fungus, has special relevance when the prey is a plant pathogen, providing a strategy for biological control of pests for plant protection. Probably, the most studied biocontrol agents are species of the genus Hypocrea/Trichoderma.

Results: Here we report an analysis of the genome sequences of the two biocontrol species Trichoderma atroviride (teleomorph Hypocrea atroviridis) and Trichoderma virens (formerly Gliocladium virens, teleomorph Hypocrea virens), and a comparison with Trichoderma reesei (teleomorph Hypocrea jecorina). These three Trichoderma species display a remarkable conservation of gene order (78 to 96%), and a lack of active mobile elements probably due to repeat-induced point mutation. Several gene families are expanded in the two mycoparasitic species relative to T. reesei or other ascomycetes, and are overrepresented in non-syntenic genome regions. A phylogenetic analysis shows that T. reesei and T. virens are derived relative to T. atroviride. The mycoparasitism-specific genes thus arose in a common Trichoderma ancestor but were subsequently lost in T. reesei.

Conclusions: The data offer a better understanding of mycoparasitism, and thus enforce the development of improved biocontrol strains for efficient and environmentally friendly protection of plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Chromosome Mapping
  • DNA Transposable Elements / genetics
  • Genome, Fungal / genetics*
  • Hypocrea / classification
  • Hypocrea / genetics
  • Pest Control, Biological*
  • Phylogeny
  • Plants / parasitology
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods*
  • Species Specificity
  • Trichoderma / classification
  • Trichoderma / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements