Trichoderma: A multi-purpose tool for integrated pest management

Abstract

Trichoderma spp. are mainly known as biocontrol and beneficial microbes useful for a range of applications, from seed coating to post-harvest, from soil to foliar, and able to provide a variety of benefits by using a plethora of mechanisms. No other beneficial fungus in the agriculture field has received so much combined attention from science and the commercial market. However, as indicated from the many hundreds of related publications normally produced each year, we are far from fully understanding the potential of these incredibly successful, from an ecological point of view, bionts. This chapter briefly summarizes the main knowledge of the interactions established by agriculturally useful Trichodermas, and discusses the next future scenario of the use of these natural, multi-purpose tools.