Trichoderma virens

STRUCTURE AND PHYSIOLOGY

Trichoderma virens is a fungus commonly found in soil that acts as a nonpathogenic parasite to plants. It can be characterized by its rapid growth and bright green spore that is formed at the tip of the hypha of the fungus. Growth is initially fluffy and white. Over time, it may become compacted and woollier, developing green tufts which typically appear as concentric rings.

TRANSMISSION AND DISEASE

Trichoderma virens ability to degrade cellulosic materials, in addition to its utilization of various enzymes and secreted metabolites, gives the fungus the ability to actively work against their host or impair the growth conditions of pathogenic fungi. Trichoderma virens colonize the roots of the host plant leading to the decreased activity of harmful microbes and deactivation of toxic compounds in the root zone.

UNIQUE OR INTERESTING FACTS

Trichoderma virens is a bio-fungicide that is commonly recognized for its benefits to agriculture. Trichoderma virens demonstrate the ability to increase biomass production, increase systemic resistance of crops to diseases, increase nutrient uptake and fertilizer utilization, as well as increase seed germination rates. These benefits can be attributed to enhanced root growth and development, along with the solubilization of nutrients in the soil because of Trichoderma virens colonization.

REFERENCE

Harman, G. E., Howell, C. R., Viterbo, A., Chet, I., & Lorito, M. (2004). Trichoderma species — opportunistic, avirulent plant symbionts. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2(1), 43-56. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro797

Schuster, A., & Schmoll, M. (2010). Biology and biotechnology of Trichoderma. Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 87(3), 787-799. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2632-1

Vargas, W. A., Mandawe, J. C., & Kenerley, C. M. (2009). Plant-derived sucrose is a key element in the symbiotic association between Trichoderma virens and maize plants. Plant physiology, 151(2), 792-808. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.109.141291

Vinale, F., Sivasithamparam, K., Ghisalberti, E. L., Marra, R., Woo, S. L., & Lorito, M. (2008). Trichoderma–plant–pathogen interactions. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 40(1), 1-10. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0038071707002908