An injury-response mechanism conserved across kingdoms determines entry of the fungus Trichoderma atroviride into development

A conserved injury-defense mechanism is present in plants and animals, in which the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid metabolism are essential to the response. Here, we describe that in the filamentous fungus Trichoderma atroviride, injury results in the formation of asexual reproduction structures restricted to regenerating cells. High-throughput RNA-seq analyses of the response to injury in T. atroviride suggested an oxidative response and activation of calcium-signaling pathways, as well as the participation of lipid metabolism, in this phenomenon. Gene-replacement experiments demonstrated that injury triggers NADPH oxidase (Nox)-dependent ROS production and that Nox1 and NoxR are essential for asexual development in response to damage. We further provide evidence of H2O2 and oxylipin production that, as in plants and animals, may act as signal molecules in response to injury in fungi, suggesting that the three kingdoms share a conserved defense-response mechanism.