Melanization of fungal necromass drives the upregulation of multiple chitinase, protease, and laccase genes when being degraded by Trichoderma reesei

Fungal necromass in soil represents the stable carbon pools. While fungi are known to decompose fungal necromass, how fungi decomopose melanin, remains poorly understood. Recently, Trichoderma species was found to be one of the most commonly associated fungi in soil, we have used a relevant fungal species, Trichoderma reesei, to characterized Genes involved in the decomposition of melanized and non-melanized necromass from Hyaloscypha bicolor. Overall design: We grew Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30 in liquid cultures with low- and high-melanin necromass and Determined gene expression patterns relative to each other. We also compared the expression pattern to that on glucose carbon source.