Tripartite Interaction Transcriptome Analysis Unveils the Multifaceted Mechanisms of Trichoderma hamatum in Biocontrolling Fusarium graminearum, the Causal Agent of Wheat Fusarium Head Blight

his study aimed to investigate the antagonistic potential of Trichoderma hamatum (Th) against Fg and elucidate the underlying mechanisms at the transcriptional level.Methods: The antagonistic activity of Th against Fg was first assessed using a dual-culture assay. A pot experiment with wheat seedlings was then conducted, including four treatments: control (CK), Th inoculation, Fg inoculation, and dual inoculation (Th-Fg). Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed, and the data were aligned to the genomes of F. graminearum, Trichoderma guizhouense (as a proxy for Th), and Triticum aestivum to analyze gene expression changes in all three organisms.