Role of two G-protein alpha subunits, TgaA and TgaB, in the antagonism of plant pathogens by Trichoderma virens.

ABSTRACT: G-protein alpha subunits are involved in transmission of signals for development, pathogenicity, and secondary metabolism in plant pathogenic and saprophytic fungi. We cloned two G-protein alpha subunit genes, tgaA and tgaB, from the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma virens. tgaA belongs to the fungal Galphai class, while tgaB belongs to the class defined by gna-2 of Neurospora crassa. We compared loss-of-function mutants of tgaA and tgaB with the wild type for radial growth, conidiation, germination of conidia, the ability to overgrow colonies of Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii in confrontation assays, and the ability to colonize the sclerotia of these pathogens in soil. Both mutants grew as well as the wild type, sporulated normally, did not sporulate in the dark, and responded to

SUBMITTER: Mukherjee PK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC321249 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature