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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401882
Research Project: Development of Genomic Tools for Control and Characterization of Rhizoctonia solani and Other Soil-borne Plant Pathogens

Location: Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory

Title: Trichoderma: species with high potentials for biocontrol and growth promotion

Author
item Ismaiel, Ed - Ed
item JAMBHULKAR, ORASHANT - Agricultural Research Institute Of India
item Lakshman, Dilip
item Roberts, Daniel

Submitted to: The Journal of Fungi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2024
Publication Date: 5/27/2024
Citation: Ismaiel, A.A., Jambhulkar, O.P., Lakshman, D.K., Roberts, D.P. 2024. Trichoderma: species with high potentials for biocontrol and growth promotion. The Journal of Fungi. https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol4020060.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol4020060

Interpretive Summary: Achieving increased food production in an environmentally sustainable means demands higher crop productivity with fewer chemical inputs. Some species of Trichoderma can act as biofertilizers and biocontrol agents (BFBCAs) through endophytic relationships in plants. Their exploitation in agriculture could be a possible way to meet this demand. Our analysis of the existing data of Trichoderma species in soil and as endophytes worldwide showed that T. harzianum, T. asperellum, T. virens, and T. atroviride are widely distributed and the dominant endophytic species. Therefore, we considered these two traits fundamental for most Trichoderma species for use as BFBCAs and placed those four species as the top choice for exploring BFBC potentials. Moreover, we hypothesize that the nearest phylogenetic neighbors and the geographically significant lineages to the species above could harbor strains that should be further explored for newer potent BFBCAs. This information will be useful to scientists adapting biological control agents and biofertilizers to crop production systems.

Technical Abstract: To meet demands of increased food production with reduced environmental footprints and in a world facing climate change demands higher crop productivity with fewer chemical inputs. Some species of Trichoderma possess the ability to act as biofertilizers and as biocontrol agents (BFBCAs) through endophytic relationships in the roots of plants, and their exploitation in agriculture could be one of many ways to meet this demand. As the number of Trichoderma species reached about 500, it is a dilemma as to what species would be the most potent candidate for biocontrol and biofertilizer. Our analysis of the existing data of Trichoderma species in soil and endophytes showed that T. harzianum, T. asperellum, T. virens, and T. atroviride : 1) are frequent encounters in soil from all over the world, and 2) they are the most dominant endophytic species. We consider these two traits as fundamental for any Trichoderma species for use as BFBCA and placed those four species containing these traits as the top choice of Trichoderma species. We also studied the population phylogeny of each species of BFBCA and found new lineages with geographic significance for T. atroviride, T. asperellum, and T. virens. We hypothesize that the nearest phylogenetic neighbors and the geographically significant lineages could show superior strains that may be potent as BFBCAs.