5 - Potential of Trichoderma species in alleviating the adverse effects of biotic and abiotic stresses in plants

Abstract

Trichoderma spp. are the most versatile biocontrol agents which have long been used for biocontrol, biofertilization, and alleviators of various abiotic stresses. They are known to produce several bioactive compounds and elicitors which directly interact with the host roots, thereby increasing the growth of plants and resistance to several biotic and abiotic stresses. They may protect the plants from phytopathogens by the formation of antibiotic, hydrolytic enzymes, mycoparasitism, competition for nutrients, induction of defense-related genes, induced systemic resistance, and production of various secondary metabolites. These mechanisms may directly or indirectly inhibit the growth of phytopathogens, rendering them ineffective to cause any disease. They are also known to induce tolerance in response to various abiotic stresses like drought, cold, salinity, heavy metal, etc. The current knowledge related to the mechanisms employed by Trichoderma spp. in alleviating the biotic and abiotic stresses in plants could be further investigated to improve its potential to combat various stresses in plants. This chapter presents the updates on published research findings about the potential of Trichoderma species in alleviating biotic and abiotic stresses in plants and the underlying mechanisms thereof.