Trichoderma isolates have been seen as biocontrol agents, but this vision has changed in the last years. Many Trichoderma isolates are able to promote plant growth, to make plants more resistant to abiotic stresses or to make photosynthesis more efficient, as well as to induce resistance to pathogens or to destroy survival structures of pathogenic fungi, such as sclerotia.
There are many researchers in the US looking at Trichoderma in terms of growth promotion and abiotic stress resistance. My group has looked at endophytic Trichoderma species for growth promotion, induction of drought tolerance, change in gene expression, and as potential biological control agent. What exactly are you interested in with Trichoderma?
Hi Rachel, I'm working on Trichderma since 1984, when I spent six months at the Gary Harman lab and last week he was here to give a seminar to our PhD students. At the moment we have three promising strains. One promotes growth in Tomato, the second in different ornamental plants and the last gave interesting results against FHB in wheat.
Here we are working for plant growth regulator production throw liquid culture of absolute strains, the trichoderma spp. Works differently in any cases and it is like a miracle to grafted seedling production
Rachel, have you looked at Trichoderma's abiilty to trigger off SAR ? How does it do this ?
And when it is endophytic, how does it signal to its host that it is a friendly fungus ?
Trichoderma fungi are very interesting for me. With the experiments I had with more than hundred isolates of Trichoderma fungi, I could get access to two isolates not only able to significantly increase root growth of sugar beet but also able to add one percent onto sucrose content. In the mean time, these isolates selected for their biocontrol potentials against fungi and oomycetes were able to infect and kill insects like ants as well as Tribolium confusum. They seem promising in the raise of agricultural productivity in the world especially in poor and developing countries where pesticides may be inaccessible or technical support may be absent in time. I am interested in the use of Trichoderma isolates for the biological control of insect-fungus complexes. Trichoderma fungi may be able to control termites because of their ability to pass through cellulose materials used by these insects to pack and isolate the dead members of their society. This is the problem faced with the use of Beauveria bassiana. Trichoderma is fast growing, green colored and with green spores, potent secretion system and armed with various enzymes and metabolites, then it looks a robust BCA.
Fortunately it is possible to use Trichoderma together with Piriformospora indica and Sebacina sp., two other free-living cultivable fungi that induce plant growth promotion and raise its stress tolerance.
Hai,
Currently Trichoderma spp. especially Trichoderma reesei are exploited for the production of bioethanol, because it can be produce several enzyme which can be used for the degrade the complex cellulose and lignin present in the substrate and leads to production of bioethanol.
Dear Vannacci,
I'm interested in understand how trichoderma can improove tomato germination. Do you have an explanation? Can trichoderma be included in seed coating? Is your trichoderma race included in any commercial product at the moment?
YES, I have some Trichoderma spp. shown prominent results in promoting rice seed germination and growth through seed coating.
Dear all, we are always interested to investigate new Trichoderma strains whether or not they may be suitable to be commercialized. In this connection plant growth promotion might even be more important than biocontrol.
Of course I am interested. I started "playing" with T. harzianum a few years ago in my house plants, Begonia "dragon wing", Phalaenopsis orchids, and growing it in Petri with different cultures.
I believe that those simbiotic fungui can make a huge difference in plant health and rooting.
I have some posts about all that... but in Spanish
Yes, I am also working with Trichoderma spp, as plant growth promoter and biocontrol agent on rice pathogens. Currently, I am developing Trichoderma amended compost for rice cultivation. May be we all can work together to promote the use of Trichoderma in the new approach of cultivation system.
Sorry, Im actually lying as I haven´t found T. harzianum to promote or help rooting at all.
In fact, most of the times the fungui infects the cutted stem and so rots it.
Only once the plant has at least small incipient roots or is already rooted.
T. harzianum reprodcues easily at 18-20 C, growing a white coat.
I attach pic of Phalaenopsis wich despite are still "keikis" (small and 2 or 3 leafs), grow happily and even "dare" growing new keikis :O
Please have a look at an interesting work..hope you find it useful...
Dear, Giovanni Vannacci
Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum and T. virens species of filamentous fungus are opportunistic and most extensively used as fungal antagonists by different operations like antibiosis, mycoparasitism, hyphal interactions, competition, acidification and secretion of hydrolytic enzymes. They are extensively used for the management of soil borne pathogens by seed treatment and soil applications which helps to boost germination rate also enhances yield along with quality of produce. Trichoderma spp known as a potent biopesticide agent for soil inherent caused by pathogenic fungi like Fusarium, Phytophthora, Scelerotia etc.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Biota
- Eukaryota
- Fungi