Sesquiterpene Biosynthetic Gene vir4 from Trichoderma virens Enhances Direct Herbivore Resistance while Maintaining Indirect Defense.

ABSTRACT: Trichoderma species are widely used as root-colonizing biocontrol agents that enhance plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses while promoting growth. These fungi produce diverse volatile and non-volatile metabolites that mediate interactions with plants. Trichoderma can influence both direct and indirect plant defenses, including the release of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) that attract natural enemies of herbivores. In this study, we examined the effects of T. virens and its vir4 gene (regulating terpenoid synthesis) knockout-mutant on maize (Zea mays), the herbivore Helicoverpa armigera, and its predator Macrolophus pygmaeus. Previous research has shown that T. virens differentially modulates maize root gene expression and specialized metabolite concentrations. Here,

SUBMITTER: Nawakht NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12799740 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature