Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
C
HAPTER
8
Trichoderma
Genes Involved in
Interactions with Fungi and Plants
Mala Mukherjee*
Abstract
Trichoderma
spp. are a group of fungi used widely as biocontrol agents for the
management of plant diseases.
Trichoderma
spp. can directly affect plant patho-
gens by virtue of being parasitic (mycoparasite) on many pathogenic fungi and
also indirectly by improving plant immunity (induced resistance). The genome
sequences of two biocontrol strains of
Trichoderma
spp. have recently been pub-
lished and several genetic evidences have accumulated over the past few years
on the genetics of interactions of
Trichoderma
with other fungi as well as plants.
In this chapter, attempts have been made to document the role of some of the
Trichoderma
genes that are involved in these interactions leading to antagonism,
biocontrol and induced resistance.
INTRODUCTION
Trichoderma
spp. (perfect state, where known, belongs to the genus
Hypocrea
) represent a large group of fungi omnipresent in soil and in
diverse ecosystems.
Trichoderma reesei
is the primary source of industrial
cellulases and hemicellulases (Mach and Zeilinger 2003). Many species of
Trichoderma
are mycoparasites and some are rhizosphere/root colonizers.
The mycoparasitic nature renders these fungi to be used as biofungicides.
A large number of formulation products are available for commercial
agriculture (Varma et al. 2007). Intimate association of
Trichoderma
spp.
with plant roots and the benefi cial effects of such interactions have led
