02555naa a2200385 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902200130006002400540007310000250012724501450015226000090029752013930030665000230169965000300172265000220175265000180177465000270179265000200181965000160183965000240185565000120187965000350189165000110192665300140193770000200195170000180197170000190198970000190200870000240202770000190205170000220207070000210209277300560211321820932025-11-28       2025    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d  a878-61467 ahttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2025.1016802DOI1 aSANTOS, T. T. M. dos  aBiocontrol of Leucoagaricus gongylophorus by Trichoderma asperelloides with implications to ant mini-colony survival.h[electronic resource]  c2025  aAbstract: Leaf-cutting ants (LCAs) of the genera Atta and Acromyrmex are major agricultural pests in the Americas, relying on their mutualism with the fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus for colony survival. Mycoparasites such as Trichoderma spp. offer promising biocontrol tools by antagonizing this essential symbiont. This study aimed to identify the most antagonistic isolate of Trichoderma asperelloides, elucidate its mechanisms of action against the fungal garden-symbiont L. gongylophorus, and further evaluate its indirect biocontrol activity on the health and survival of Atta sexdens mini-colonies. Isolates of T. asperelloides namely Tricho 4, Tricho 5, Tricho 7, and Tricho 11 exhibited strong antagonism, reducing L. gongylophorus colony growth by more than 94 % in dual culture assays. Additionally, antibiosis mechanism and volatile compound release by T. asperelloides induced over an 80 % reduction in L. gongylophorus growth. Moreover, exposure to these isolates significantly disrupted ant mini-colonies, leading to mortality rates of up to 60 % and a concurrent reduction in waste production, likely linked to the antagonism effects of T. asperelloides on the garden-symbiont fungus. Overall, these T. asperelloides isolates demonstrate potent antifungal activities against L. gongylophorus and may serve as a sustainable biological strategy for managing LCA colonies.  aBiological control  aBiological control agents  aLeaf-cutting ants  aLeucoagaricus  aTrichoderma asperellum  aAcromyrmex Mayr  aAntagonismo  aControle Biológico  aFormiga  aFungo Para Controle Biológico  aSaúva  aVolatiles1 aMASCARIN, G. M.1 aDUNLAP, C. A.1 aCHAIBUB, A. A.1 aPEREIRA, J. M.1 aMENDES, L. de M. O.1 aRIBEIRO, D. S.1 aARAÚJO, L. G. de1 aFERNANDES, P. M.  tFungal Biologygv. 129, n. 8, article 101680, 2025.