Trichoderma: A biocontrol agent that induces resistance to both biotic and abiotic stress

Ilan Chet

Trichoderma: A biocontrol agent that induces resistance to both biotic and abiotic stress

Ilan Chet

Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

: J Plant Physiol Pathol

Abstract

Trichoderma is a fungus acting as a biocontrol agent. Biological control, the use of specific organisms that interfere with plant pathogens, is an environmentally friendly, ecological approach to overcome the problems caused by hazardous chemical pesticides applied in plant protection. The mycoparasite Trichoderma is an efficient biocontrol agent excreting extracellular chitinases, ÃƒÂŸ-1-3 glucanases and proteases. Cloning these genes into plants can induce their resistance to diseases. Moreover, this biocontrol agent can induce systemic resistance (ISR) to diseases by priming the expression of several plant defense related genes which enables Trichoderma- treated plants to be more resistant to subsequent pathogen infection. Root colonization by Trichoderma strains results in massive changes in plant metabolism leading to accumulation of antimicrobial compounds in the whole plant. Recent studies demonstrate that Trichoderma can ameliorate also plant performance in the presence of various abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and heavy metals. Understanding the molecular basis of the diverse modes of action of these versatile beneficial fungi is a central goal of our research.