Review on Plant-Trichoderma-Pathogen Interaction

Abstract

Trichoderma spp. are the most successful biocontrol agents as more than 60% of the registered bio-fungicides used in today‟s agriculture belongs to Trichoderma-based formulation. Plant-Trichoderma-pathogen is a complex network of multiple mechanisms. Presently many labs tried to dissecting the networking of three way cross talk in Plant- Trichoderma-Pathogen interaction. Proteome and genome analysis have greatly enhanced the ability to conduct holistic and genome-based functional studies as they have identified and determined the role of a variety of novel genes and gene-products, including ABC transporters, enzymes and other proteins that produce or act as novel elicitors of induced resistance, proteins responsible for a gene-for-gene avirulent interaction between Trichoderma spp. and plants, antagonism related gene, plant proteins specifically induced by Trichoderma, etc. but there is still much more left than what has been searched. Understanding these mechanisms at the molecular level would help in designing the strains with superior biocontrol properties. Here we review our current understanding of the genetics of interactions of Trichoderma with plants and phytopathogens and their role in mode of action. These factors are expected to enhance not only the rapid identification of effective strains and their applications but also indicate the potentials for improvement of natural strains of Trichoderma.