Ecofriendly Management of Plant Diseases by Biosynthesised Secondary Metabolites of Trichoderma spp.
The status of Trichoderma spp. in established research and industry is in view of its twin focal advantages of plant growth promotion and biological control. However, these features are fully expressed in field conditions primarily when an area-specific strain is applied in its respective region and, secondly, when the whole organism formulation broadcasted has retained ample viability (high spore count). On the contrary, a formulation of biosynthesised antimicrobial secondary metabolites would have a much longer shelf life, a higher efficiency against soil borne phytopathogens particularly against bacteria. In addition, a consortium of antimicrobial metabolites against individual pathogens could be formulated and used regardless of geographic location where the incidence of that particular disease is high. This approach would be unsurpassed by current technology, as here the formulation would specifically target a particular pathogen while remaining soil microbiota would remain unaffected. Our foremost interest is to improve or replace the conventional whole organism formulations of biopesticides so that next-generation biosynthesised antimicrobial secondary metabolites based formulations could be developed for management of phytopathogens.
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