Trichoderma as a biological control agent against Colletotrichum -associated plant diseases: current insights and future perspectives
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran
- 2Philippine Rice Research Institute, Maligaya, Science City of Munoz
- 3Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya
- 4Doctorate Program in Biotechnology, Graduate School, Universitas Padjadjaran
- 5Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), Universiti Malaya
- 6Department of Soil Science, University of Tehran
Abstract
Colletotrichum species are a taxonomically complex group of hemibiotrophic fungi that cause anthracnose diseases, posing a major constraint to global crop productivity. Their broad host range, high genetic diversity, and ability to shift between biotrophic and necrotrophic phases complicate effective disease management. Although synthetic fungicides are widely used, their prolonged application has raised concerns regarding pathogen resistance, environmental contamination, and food safety, driving the search for sustainable approaches. Unlike previous reviews that mainly discuss Colletotrichum biology or Trichoderma biocontrol mechanisms separately, this review integrates pathogen taxonomy and infection biology with mechanistic, applied, and future-oriented perspectives on Trichoderma-based anthracnose management. Evidence from laboratory, greenhouse, field, and postharvest studies indicates that Trichoderma has promising potential for suppressing Colletotrichum, particularly under controlled conditions, although its efficacy remains influenced by environmental factors, strain specificity, formulation stability, and application method. Integrating Trichoderma-based products into disease management systems offers a promising strategy to reduce chemical inputs and enhance crop resilience. Future research should focus on multi-omics approaches, strain optimization, formulation development, and field validation to ensure consistent performance across diverse agroecosystems.
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BibTeX
@article{adhitya2026trichoderma,
title = {{Trichoderma as a biological control agent against Colletotrichum -associated plant diseases: current insights and future perspectives}},
author = {Rendra Adhitya and Mia Miranti and Thomas Argyarich Jefferson and Malvin Albert and Ravindra Chandra Joshi and Muhamad Shakirin Mispan and Dedat Prismantoro and Nur Syafikah Abdullah and Mehrdad Alizadeh and Wawan Hermawan and Febri Doni},
journal = {Plant Signaling \& Behavior},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1080/15592324.2026.2691464},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2026.2691464},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Trichoderma as a biological control agent against Colletotrichum -associated plant diseases: current insights and future perspectives
AU - Rendra Adhitya
AU - Mia Miranti
AU - Thomas Argyarich Jefferson
AU - Malvin Albert
AU - Ravindra Chandra Joshi
AU - Muhamad Shakirin Mispan
AU - Dedat Prismantoro
AU - Nur Syafikah Abdullah
AU - Mehrdad Alizadeh
AU - Wawan Hermawan
AU - Febri Doni
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/19
JO - Plant Signaling & Behavior
DO - 10.1080/15592324.2026.2691464
UR - https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2026.2691464
AB - Colletotrichum species are a taxonomically complex group of hemibiotrophic fungi that cause anthracnose diseases, posing a major constraint to global crop productivity. Their broad host range, high genetic diversity, and ability to shift between biotrophic and necrotrophic phases complicate effective disease management. Although synthetic fungicides are widely used, their prolonged application has raised concerns regarding pathogen resistance, environmental contamination, and food safety, driving the search for sustainable approaches. Unlike previous reviews that mainly discuss Colletotrichum biology or Trichoderma biocontrol mechanisms separately, this review integrates pathogen taxonomy and infection biology with mechanistic, applied, and future-oriented perspectives on Trichoderma-based anthracnose management. Evidence from laboratory, greenhouse, field, and postharvest studies indicates that Trichoderma has promising potential for suppressing Colletotrichum, particularly under controlled conditions, although its efficacy remains influenced by environmental factors, strain specificity, formulation stability, and application method. Integrating Trichoderma-based products into disease management systems offers a promising strategy to reduce chemical inputs and enhance crop resilience. Future research should focus on multi-omics approaches, strain optimization, formulation development, and field validation to ensure consistent performance across diverse agroecosystems.
SN - 1559-2316
SN - 1559-2324
ER -