Work

Plant-beneficial effects of Trichoderma and of its genes

Year: 2011

Type: review

Abstract: Trichoderma (teleomorph Hypocrea) is a fungal genus found in many ecosystems. Trichoderma spp. can reduce the severity of plant diseases by inhibiting plant pathogens in the soil through their highly potent antagonistic and mycoparasitic activity. Moreover, as revealed by research in recent decades, some Trichoderma strains can interact directly with roots, increasing plant growth potential, resistance to disease and tolerance to abiotic stresses. This mini-review summarizes the main findings concerning the Trichoderma-plant interaction, the molecular dialogue between the two organisms, and the dramatic changes induced by the beneficial fungus in the plant. Efforts to enhance plant resistance and tolerance to a broad range of stresses by expressing Trichoderma genes in the plant genome are also addressed.

Source: Microbiology

DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.052274-0

Authors: Rosa Hermosa, Ada Viterbo, Ilan Chet, Enrique Monte

Institutions: Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación en Agrobiotecnología, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Language: English

Topic: Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación