Trichoderma longibrachiatum EF5 is an endophytic fungal antagonist of rice. It is used for the control of soil-borne fungal pathogens—Sclerotium rolfsii and Macrophomina phaseolina. We demonstrate that T. longibrachiatum EF5 inhibits the growth of these pathogens on direct interaction as well as via the production of the microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). The mVOCs reduced mycelial growth and inhibited the production of sclerotia by altering the mycelial structure. We profiled 138 mVOCs, when T. longibrachiatum EF5 interacted with the two pathogens. During these interactions, several compounds are up- or downregulated by T. longibrachiatum EF5, including longifolene, caryophyllene,1-Butanol 2-methyl, cedrene, and cuprenene. These compounds are involved in the biosynthetic pathways of the sesquiterpenoid and alkane, and the degradation pathway of trimethylamine. We provide an insight into the multiple modes by which T. longibrachiatum EF5 exerts antagonistic actions, such as hyperparasitism, competitions, and antibiosis via mVOCs. In contrast to their antimicrobial properties, these metabolites could also promote plant growth.

长木霉木霉EF5是水稻的内生真菌拮抗剂。它可用于控制土壤传播的真菌病原体-菌核菌和菜豆（Macrophomina phaseolina）。我们证明T. longibrachiatum EF5抑制了直接相互作用以及通过产生微生物挥发性有机化合物（mVOCs）时这些病原体的生长。mVOC通过改变菌丝体结构降低了菌丝体生长并抑制了菌核的产生。当T. longibrachiatum EF5与两种病原体相互作用时，我们分析了138个mVOC 。在这些相互作用中，长曲霉会上调或下调几种化合物EF5，包括长叶烯，石竹烯，2-甲基丁酸1-丁醇，雪松烯和铜烯。这些化合物参与倍半萜和烷烃的生物合成途径，以及三甲胺的降解途径。我们提供了对T. longibrachiatum EF5通过mVOC发挥拮抗作用（例如高寄生，竞争和抗生）的多种模式的见解。与它们的抗菌特性相反，这些代谢物也可以促进植物生长。