Insights into Metabolic Changes Caused by the <i>Trichoderma virens</i>–Maize Root Interaction

The interactions of crops with root-colonizing endophytic microorganisms are highly relevant to agriculture, because endophytes can modify plant resistance pests and increase crop yields. We investigated the between host Zea mays fungus Trichoderma virens at 5 days postinoculation grown in a hydroponic system. Wild-type T. two knockout mutants, deletion genes tv2og1 or vir4 involved specialized metabolism, were analyzed. Root colonization by fungal mutants was lower than that wild type. All genotypes suppressed root biomass. Metabolic fingerprinting roots, mycelia, culture supernatants performed using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled diode array detection quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. metabolic composition virens-colonized roots differed profoundly from noncolonized effects depending on genotype. In particular, concentrations several metabolites derived shikimate pathway, including an amino acid flavonoids, modulated. expression levels some coding for enzymes these pathways affected if colonized ?vir4 genotype virens. Furthermore, mycelia different showed distinct metabolomes. Our study highlights fact leads far-reaching changes, partly related genes. Both produced modulated interaction probably contribute patterns. changes tissues may be interlinked systemic endophyte often observed later developmental stages. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 Author(s). This is open access article distributed under CC BY 4.0 International license .