TalaromycesStrain has Biological Control Effect on Bitter Gourd WiltthroughInhibiting the Growth of Fusariumoxysporumf. sp.momordicae

Fusarium wilt of bitter gourd (Momordicacharantia) is a serious vascular wilt disease, caused by the soil-born pathogen Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. momordicae (FOM), which is the most destructive disease in bitter gourd worldwide. In this study, basis on morphology and phylogenetic analyses we identified an efficient Talaromyces strain T. purpureogenus Q2, an anomorphic fungus Penicilliumpurpurogenum, which could be used for defense and inhibition of FOM in bitter gourd and efficiently decreasing disease incidence of Fusarium wilt of bitter gourd in greenhouse and field. The results of biocontrol mechanisms showed that T. purpureogenus Q2 could significantly suppress the mycelia growth and spores germination of FOM through production of cell wall degrading enzymes such as chitinases and ß-1, 3-glucanase and proteinase. To elucidate the detailed mechanisms inhibiting the mycelia growth and spores germination of FOM, a comparative transcriptome analysis using the sample singly-cultured of FOM and the sample co-cultured with Q2 and FOM was conducted.