Chronological Events Associated with the Antagonistic Properties of Trichoderma harzianum against Botrytis cinerea: Indirect Evidence for Sequential Role of Antibiosis and Parasitism

Chronological events associated with the degradation of Botrytis cinerea by a strain of Trichoderma harzianum selected for superior biocontrol ability were studied using ultrastructure and cytochemical investigations in an attempt to define the relative roles of antibiosis and parasitism in the antagonistic process. The first ultrastructural changes were observed 12 h before contact between the organisms, and were characterized by punctuated invaginations of the Botrytis plasmalemma. These reactions were followed by a gradual retraction of the plasmalemma, disorganization of the cytoplasm, loss of turgor pressure and cell death within 48 h of contact between hyphae of the interacting fungi. The first evidence of penetration of B. cinerea by T. harzianum was recorded 72 h after contact. This penetration was apparently mediated by either mechanical pressure or localized wall digestion at points of entry, as there was no clear evidence of chitinolytic degradation of the B. cinerea cell wall, as determined by cytochemical labelling of chitin with a lectin-gold conjugate. However, after 10 days there was clear indication of chitin degradation, based on the random and reduced presence of gold particles over the cell wall of B. cinerea. These results suggest that the strain of T. harzianum antagonized first and foremost by antibiosis, leading to cell death, followed by degradation of the cell by means of chitinolytic enzymes. The production of antibiotics may, therefore, be more important than that of chitinolytic enzymes in conferring superior biocontrol properties to T. harzianum.