“Current Applications of Trichoderma in Agriculture Biocontrol of Fungal Pathogens And Enhancement of Plant Growth”

Harnessing Trichoderma Species for Sustainable Biocontrol: Mechanisms, Formulation Strategies, Commercialization, and Field Applications

Trichoderma species are widely investigated and commercially applied as eco-friendly biocontrol agents in sustainable agriculture. These filamentous fungi protect plants through multiple complementary mechanisms, including mycoparasitism, antibiosis, competition for nutrients and ecological niches, and induction of systemic resistance in host plants. These activities are mediated by a diverse array of secondary metabolites, hydrolytic enzymes, and signaling pathways that collectively suppress pathogens and enhance plant health. Beyond disease control, selected Trichoderma strains promote plant growth by improving nutrient acquisition, modulating phytohormone signaling, and increasing tolerance to abiotic stresses. This review summarizes recent advances in the mechanisms underlying Trichoderma spp. mediated biocontrol, with particular emphasis on secondary metabolites, formulation strategies, commercialization, and field applications. Commercial products are available in various formulations, including wettable powders, granules, and liquid preparations, and have demonstrated efficacy against several economically important plant diseases under field conditions. However, their performance remains highly dependent on strain characteristics, host species, environmental conditions and agricultural practices, resulting in inconsistent efficacy across agroecosystems. Recent progress in genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics has substantially improved our understanding of Trichoderma–plant–pathogen interactions and revealed considerable strain-specific variation in biocontrol and plant growth-promoting traits. Future research should prioritize strain-specific optimization, formulation stability, microbiome-informed applications, and improved field predictability. Overall, Trichoderma spp. Represents a valuable component of integrated disease management, offering an effective and sustainable alternative to synthetic pesticides.

Insights into the application and functional mechanisms of biocontrol against fungal pathogens in rice

More than 50% of the world's population is reliant on rice (Oryza sativa L.) as their main dietary source, but harmful fungal diseases are a constant threat to its production. Each year, significant yield losses occur due to pathogens like Rhizoctonia solani (sheath blight), Magnaporthe oryzae (rice blast) and Ustilaginoidea virens (false smut). The frequent use of chemical fungicides used to treat these diseases have led to the development of tolerance pathogen stress and serious environmental issues. A viable and long-term alternative is biological control, which makes use of more beneficial microorganisms called biocontrol agents (BCAs). This review summarizes recent findings on the use and actual mechanisms of BCAs against the primary rice fungal pathogens. We analyze the variety of microbial antagonists, which comprise the fungal and bacterial genera Trichoderma and Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Streptomyces and other endophytic fungi. These BCAs have a variety of functional mechanisms, include competition for nutrients and space, direct hostility through mycoparasitism, and antibiosis, as well as indirect mechanisms such as the induction of systemic resistance (ISR) in the host plant and plant growth promotion (PGP).We discuss a variety of methods of application, like as foliar sprays, soil inoculation, and seed dressing, and focus on the significance of developing stable and efficient formulations. In order to improve the efficacy and reliability of biocontrol in rice agroecosystems, we deal with the issues preventing the broad use of BCAs, such as uneven field performance and regulatory barriers, and we suggest future research possibilities, such as the development of synthetic microbial consortia and the application of multi-omics technologies.

Direct Antifungal Effects of Actinobacteria as Biocontrol Agents Against Pre- and Postharvest Diseases in Fruits, Vegetables, and Cereals

Pre- and postharvest losses caused by fungal infections represent one of the greatest constraints in agricultural production worldwide. Due to increasingly stringent regulations, as well as environmental and health concerns associated with their use, synthetic fungicides have been restricted, driving the development and application of sustainable alternatives within the framework of integrated plant disease management. Among these, Actinobacteria (also referred to as Actinomycetota) have attracted considerable attention over the past decades due to their versatile metabolites and plant growth-promoting properties, supporting their potential application as bacterial biocontrol agents. Their activity against phytopathogenic fungi is largely associated with direct antagonistic mechanisms. Currently, special attention is paid to the excreted secondary metabolites, lytic enzymes, volatile organic compounds and their in vitro antifungal activity. Therefore, this review summarizes current knowledge on these direct mechanisms, aiming to support the future application of actinobacteria and their metabolites as part of biological plant disease management strategies.

Multifaceted Roles of Trichoderma in Sustainable Agriculture: Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Perspectives

Overall, this review presents the versatile function of Trichoderma spp.

Plant Fungal Endophytes as Sustainable Components of Insect Pest Management

Soil Yeasts from Sugarcane Agroecosystems: Nutrient Cycling and Biocontrol Potential in Agricultural Systems

Soil yeasts represent a significant component of the agricultural microbiota and possess high ecological and biotechnological potential in production systems such as those for sugarcane. This review analyses the importance of these microorganisms in fundamental processes related to soil health and functionality, highlighting their role in nutrient cycling, the decomposition of organic matter, and the availability of essential elements for plant uptake. Numerous studies have shown that certain yeasts possess plant-growth-promoting characteristics, including the production of phytohormones, siderophores and compounds capable of solubilizing nutrients, thereby promoting plant development and the sustainability of the agroecosystem. Furthermore, this review highlights the potential of yeasts as agents for the biological control of agricultural diseases and pests. Various mechanisms of action are described, including the production of volatile organic compounds, hydrolytic enzymes, antagonistic toxins, competition for nutrients and space, and the induction of defense responses in plants. In sugarcane systems, some yeast species such as Metschnikowia spp., Meyerozyma guilliermondii, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Pichia spp., and Rhodotorula glutinis have demonstrated antagonistic activity against plant pathogens and the potential to be integrated into sustainable agricultural management strategies.