Trichoderma Species and Their Biological Mechanisms

Abstract

Biocontrol agents (BCA) are an important tool for preventing crop losses and increasing plant food production in agriculture. Providing an eco-friendly and more sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilizers. A number of biocontrol applications are often conducted on the fungus Trichoderma, which is one of the most widely used and studied organisms in the field due to its numerous biocontrol traits, including parasitism, secondary metabolite production, antibiosis which induced plant defense mechanisms. It is well known that several Trichoderma species act as mycoparasites. Certain species within this group also possess the ability to oppose many organisms, including nematodes and plant pests, hence exhibiting their versatility as a biological control agent. The utilization of bioformulations incorporating Trichoderma species or other beneficial microbes for plants, such as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), has gained significant traction in the agricultural industry. The present review provides a comprehensive summary of the biocontrol studies conducted on six commonly utilized Trichoderma species. It focuses on elucidating their biocontrol attributes and explores the potential of incorporating these fungal genera into Trichoderma-based formulations for safeguarding against plant diseases. Furthermore, it discusses the viability of Trichoderma as a substitute for chemical pesticides and fertilizers.