European Research Center for Social Development

Tag: Trichoderma

  • Fungi of the Trichoderma Genus: Future Perspectives of Benefits in Sustainable Agriculture

    The negative impact of chemical pesticides on the environment and human health has contributed to the introduction of legal regulations that ensure the reduction in the use of agrochemicals in favor of biological products.

    The existing review of the literature, including our research, clearly shows that the ideal biocontrol agents are Trichoderma fungi. The production of antibiotics, lytic enzymes degrading the cell walls of plant pathogens, or inducing a defense response in plants are just some of the features supporting the wide use of these microorganisms in sustainable agriculture.

    It is estimated that currently about 60% of biofungicides used to eliminate fungal pathogens are produced based on Trichoderma sp. strains.

    Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116434

    Reference:

    Kubiak, A., Wolna-Maruwka, A., Pilarska, A. A., Niewiadomska, A., & Piotrowska-Cyplik, A. (2023). Fungi of the Trichoderma Genus: Future Perspectives of Benefits in Sustainable Agriculture. Applied Sciences, 13(11), 6434.

  • Combined use of Trichoderma and beneficial bacteria (mainly Bacillus and Pseudomonas): Development of microbial synergistic bio-inoculants in sustainable agriculture

    While agriculture struggles to feed a growing population through environmentally friendly means, combining different types of microorganisms could be the key to more sustainable production.

    Fungi like Trichoderma and bacteria such as Bacillus or Pseudomonas are effective on their own, using them together creates a powerful synergy.

    According to the study, these “microbial synergistic bio-inoculants” act as both plant growth pomoters and biocontrol agents, offering benefits that are greater than the sum of their individual parts. The review considers the diverse mechanisms behind these interactions and presents them as a promising alternative for crop management and pest control.

    However, the authors also highlight significant gaps in current research. While there is plenty of data on how these combinations fight pests and diseases, they note that there is little to no information regarding their effectiveness against viral diseases or their ability to improve plant tolerance to abiotic stresses.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2022.105100

    Reference:

    Poveda, J., & Eugui, D. (2022). Combined use of Trichoderma and beneficial bacteria (mainly Bacillus and Pseudomonas): Development of microbial synergistic bio-inoculants in sustainable agriculture. Biological Control, 176, 105100.