Genomic and metabolomics analysis: unlocking the biocontrol mechanism of Trichoderma virilente Z53 against anthracnose in Pleione yunnanensis

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. is harmful to orchidaceous plants including Pleione yunnanensis. The use of microorganisms for biocontrol is considered safe and effective. This study demonstrated that Trichoderma virilente Z53 not only exhibits strong antagonistic activity against 12 phytopathogenic fungal species but also promotes maize seed germination and seedling growth under in vitro conditions and effectively suppresses anthracnose disease in Pleione yunnanensis. Pot studies demonstrated that Z53, when used as a soil inoculant, significantly promoted plant height, root length, and fresh weight of maize, while markedly inhibiting the severity of leaf anthracnose caused by C. orchidophilum in P. yunnanensis. The Z53 genome spans 39.56 Mb and contains 10,521 coding genes. The draft genome analysis of Z53 revealed the genetic attributes for antagonistic properties, nitrogen assimilation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production and production of volatile organic compounds. Gene clusters for antifungal metabolites trichoxide, Ascochlorin, and Clavaric acid, along with transcription factors such as C2H2 and bZIP, were also identified in the Z53 genome. Furthermore, the LC-MS/MS of crude cell pellet extract of Z53 identified 3,743 high-confidence secondary metabolites. These include antimicrobial compounds such as trichodermin, viridin, palmitic acid, isoprene, camphene, and 2-pentylfuran, as well as plant growth-promoting metabolites including indole-3-acetic acid, gibberellin A7, phosphoric acid, and L-tryptophan. Collectively, these findings establish T. virilente Z53 as a promising candidate for the development of biopesticides to control fungal pathogens and enhance plant defence.