Mechanisms of growth promotion by members of the rhizosphere fungal genus Trichoderma .

Abstract

This chapter describes the ability of Trichoderma spp. to induce plant growth by direct and indirect mechanisms. Direct mechanisms include the facilitation or increment of nutrients uptake such as phosphate solubilization, iron sequestration and production of secondary metabolites, including phytohormones and volatile or nonvolatile compounds. Indirect mechanisms include biological control activity against plant pathogens (bacteria, fungi and nematodes) and the ability to impart abiotic stress tolerance within the plant. The 'omics' (transcriptomics and proteomics) of Trichoderma are discussed, to understand the complexity of biological processes that drive Trichoderma-plant interactions and plant growth promotion.

Fungistatic Activity Mediated by Volatile Organic Compounds Is Isolate-Dependent in Trichoderma sp. “atroviride B”

“…sp. “ atroviride B” can affect plants positively in a direct manner, for instance, by the production of beneficial metabolites or proteins and indirectly by inhibiting plant pathogens [ 17 ]. Intraspecific differences in inhibiting phytopathogens and promoting plant growth are well known but these also depend on the plant and pathogen species tested in addition to the fungal isolate [ 13 , 21 , 38 ].…”

“…Several T. sp. “ atroviride B” isolates protect plants by direct and indirect mechanisms [ 13 , 17 ]. These attributes have been used in agriculture to control soil-borne fungal pathogens (e.g., Rhizoctonia solani [ 18 ], and Sclerotinia cepivorum [ 19 ]), or foliar pathogens (e.g., Botrytis cinerea [ 20 ]).…”