Molecular Mechanisms of Interactions of Trichoderma with other Fungal Species

Abstract

Trichoderma species are known globally mostly for the production of industrially useful enzymes as well as their biocontrol ability against plant pathogens. One of the major strategies of biological control is mycoparasitism against fungal pathogens of crop plants. However, till recently the mechanisms of mycoparasitism by biocontrol potential Trichoderma species at molecular level were not clearly understood. The biochemical signaling and the involvement of secondary metabolites that lead to mycoparasitic activities of Trichoderma, in particular, were not very clearly known earlier. Recent findings in this regard revealed that there are a number of signaling cascades activated during the process of mycoparasitism by Trichoderma species against phytopathogenic fungal pathogens. In addition Trichoderma also interacts with beneficial root inhabiting fungi like mycorrhizae. The interaction of Trichoderma species with mycorrhizal fungi is different as during interaction with mycorrhizal fungi different signaling cascades are activated that lead to a synergistic action. In the current review, we gathered updated evidences regarding the signaling cascades that are generated during interactions between Trichoderma species with fungal pathogens resulting mycoparasitism as well as interactions of Trichoderma species with mycorrhizal fungi resulting synergism at molecular level. We also highlighted the role of secondary metabolites that are reported to be associated in the signaling processes.

Effect of Mycorrhizal Inoculation and Irrigation on Biological Properties of Sweet Pepper Rhizosphere in Organic Field Cultivation

“…They inhibit the growth and development of phytopathogens in the soil through antibiosis, competition, and parasitism [64][65][66]. Those microorganisms produce antibiotics that decompose cell walls and lysis of the mycelium [64,67,68]. In addition, the effectiveness of bacteria in reducing the population of rhizospheric fungi is related to the action of secondary metabolites such as iron-complexing compounds (siderophores), substances inducing plant resistance (salicylic and anthranilic acids), enzymes degrading fungal cell wall components (glucanases and endochitinases), and hormonal substances [69][70][71].…”

Exploring the Extracellular Macromolecular Composition of Crude Extracts of Penicillium rubens Strain 212 for Elucidation Its Mode of Action as a Biocontrol Agent

“…The management of persistent soil-borne pathogens through chemical means is inefficient as it involves high costs and cause environmental hazards. An ecofriendly approach in crop protection, capable of reducing the damage caused by fungal pathogens with several BCA, was reported to be effective in many crops [ 49 , 50 , 51 ]. In this sense, application of dried PO212 conidia (live conidia) has been already shown to trigger the plant defense response against FOL in tomato plants [ 25 , 26 ].…”

A Proteomic Approach to Understand the Tripartite Interactions Between Plant-Trichoderma-Pathogen: Investigating the Potential for Efficient Biological Control

“…and other phytopathogenic fungi are usually expressed as mycoparasitism or necrotrophic hyperparasitism (Bisen et al 2015 ). Various cell wall-degrading enzymes and lytic enzymes are secreted by Trichoderma during the mycoparasitism which hydrolyze the host fungal cell wall and result in liberation of oligomers from the host cell wall (Table 1 ) Kubicek et al 2001 ;Sarma et al 2014 ). (Keswani et al 2014 ).…”