Application of Trichoderma micromycetes and trichoderma-based consortia in agrobiotechnology (review)

Abstract

The review presents the results of studies on the role of Trichoderma spp. micromycetes in soil microbiomes, on the emerging syntrophic relationships that promote the co-prosperity of various microbial trichoderma consortia. Physiological and biochemical characteristics of Trichoderma is the basis for the creation of biological products with multifunctional action, in particular, for use in agriculture as a biocontrol agent, a growth stimulator of higher plants, and a bioremediator of contaminated soils. Of particular interest are studies devoted to the creation of associations of Trichoderma with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, since in the future it is precisely such biological products that have the greatest potential both in protecting plants from infections and in increasing soil fertility. Analysis of literary data shows that Trichoderma spp. is one of the most promising agrobiotechnology objects. Their unique properties applied in agriculture are due to their metabolism characteristics, the specificity of the secreted secondary metabolites, as well as the ability to symbiotic and antagonistic relationships with other organisms, both microbes and higher plants. Trichoderma was originally used as a phytopathogen antagonist in the development of biological products due to the release of various antibiotics. In addition to antibiosis, the protective properties of Trichoderma towards higher plants are manifested in the ability to mycoparasitize phytopathogens through chemotrophic and chitinase activity. An inventory of Trichoderma exometabolites shows that a significant portion of its produced compounds positively affect higher plants, including growth-stimulating and immunomodulatory effect, the ability to destroy mycotoxins, and to activate water exchange and photosynthesis processes. The combined use of Trichoderma with free-living and symbiotic nitrogen fixers is of particular interest in recent years. Research on the use of such consortia has shown the prospects for application not only in equatorial and subequatorial latitudes but also in the temperate climatic zone.