1. Classification and Morphology of Trichoderma spp.
The name of the genus
Trichoderma was introduced into the literature by Persoon in 1794
[1]. The genus belongs to the kingdom of Fungi, phylum Ascomycota, class Sordariomycetes, order Hypocreales, family Hypocraceae
[2]. In 1865, the Tulasne brothers proved that
Hypocrea rufa was a teleomorph of
T. viride Pers.
[3]. Until 1939, it was believed that there was only one species within the genus
Trichoderma—
T. viride [4]. Then, in 1969, based on the analysis of morphological features, Rifai
[5] distinguished nine species:
T. harzianum Rifai,
T. viride,
T. hamatum (Bonord.) Bainier,
T. koningii (Oudem.) Duché & R. Heim,
T. polysporum (Link) Rifai,
T. piluliferum J. Webster & Rifai,
T. aureoviride Rifai,
T. longibrachiatum Rifai, and
T. pseudokoningii Rifai. In the early 1990s, Bissett
[6][7][8] identified five sections and 27 biological species within the genus
Trichoderma. The introduction of such tools as restriction fragment length polymorphism markers (RFLP), random amplified polymorphic DNA markers (RAPD), and phylogenetic markers of coding sequence variation for the molecular identification of species had a significant impact on the development of taxonomy at that time. From the late 1990s to 2002, the number of
Trichoderma species increased to 47
[9]. Verification of the taxonomy of the entire genus was initiated by Kindermann et al.
[10], who analyzed the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region that encodes the rRNA. The further development of molecular methods, including the presentation of the first fungal oligonucleotide barcode for the identification of
Hypocrea and
Trichoderma species—
TrichO Key version 1.0
[11], has contributed to doubling of the number of newly described species. Currently, there are 497 species of genus
Trichoderma listed in Index Fungorum
[2]. However, it should be emphasized that the number of the so-called morphological species has not increased dramatically, and amounts to 1/3 of the species described based on molecular analyses
[12].
Trichoderma spp. exist in conidial (imperfect) stages, which makes them unable to reproduce sexually, as well as in perfect stages, such as Hypocrea; in which case, sexual reproduction is possible. The germinating spores, or chlamydospores, develop by forming simple or branched conidiophores, the conidial spores of which are spherical or ellipsoidal in shape. Sporulation depends on the availability of nutrients and light, temperature, and competition from other microorganisms
[13].
Trichoderma spp. form circular conidial zones, formed by fungal colonies made up of bundles of conidiophores, clumped or loose. The surface of the colony resembles cotton wool. The color of the conidia varies from white-green to dark green, depending on the species. Some colonies of
Trichoderma spp. produce an odor, e.g.,
T. atroviride and
T. harzianum, which smell like hazelnuts
[5].
2. The Impact of the Environment on the Population of Trichoderma spp.
Trichoderma fungi are found in almost all types of soil around the world. The soils in temperate and tropical climates contain between 10
1 and 10
3 propagule units of those fungi per 1 g. They inhabit roots of various cultivated and wild plants
[14][15].
The carbon(C)-to-nitrogen(N) ratio (C:N) has a great impact on the development of
Trichoderma spp.—a ratio too low results in the loss of competitive interactions between
Trichoderma spp. and fungal plant pathogens
[16]. This is due to the fact that
Trichoderma spp. is able to use various sources of C and N to grow. The demand for C and energy is covered by simple and complex sugars, as well as purines, pyrimidines, amino acids, thiamine, alkaloids, and organic acids, especially long-chain fatty acids and even methanol (CH
3OH) and methylamine (CH
3NH
2). The most frequently used source of N is ammonia (NH
3); however,
Trichoderma spp. also use amino acids, urea (CO(NH
2)
2), nitrites, and nitrates. When the concentration of N in the substrate increases, many isolates respond by forming a mass of conidial spores and chlamydospores
[15]. The favorable C:N ratio for
Trichoderma spp. is found in soils rich in C and phosphorus (P)
[17]. The development of
Trichoderma spp. is also determined by abiotic factors (substrate and air temperature, humidity, substrate pH) and biotic factors (interactions between microorganisms). In unfavorable environmental conditions, e.g., too high temperature, the conidia of
Trichoderma spp. may die, as their walls are too thin. However, the fungi can survive thanks to the formation of thick-walled chlamydospores. Such a phenomenon is observed in
T. hamatum,
T. harzianum,
T. virens, and
T. viride. Trichoderma spp. are classified as mesophilic organisms, as the optimum temperature for the growth and development of those fungi is approximately 25 °C
[13]. However, some strains of
T. viride and
T. polysporum can grow at low temperatures. Additionally, cold-tolerant strains of
T. viride,
T. harzianum, and
T. aureoviride can become parasites of phytopathogens such as
Rhizoctonia solani,
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.
dianthi at low temperatures (5–10 °C) by producing enzymes characteristic of the mycoparasitism: β-glucosidase; β-1,4,-N-acetylglucosaminidase; or trypsin and chemotrypsin proteases
[13].
Trichoderma spp. grow very fast when the pH of the substrate is 5–5.5, but they are easily decomposed in the light, as they are sensitive to UV radiation
[13]. According to Benitez et al.
[18], the development of
Trichoderma spp. also takes place in alkaline substrate, with a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO
2). Das et al.
[19] indicate that high humidity (80%) is very important for those fungi to develop properly.
Copper (Cu) ions can also affect the growth rate, sporulation, and enzymatic activity of
Trichoderma spp.
[20].
Trichoderma spp. show high resistance to many toxic compounds produced by other microorganisms, including antibiotics, as well as to terpenoid phytoalexins and peroxidases secreted by plants, and to fungicides and heavy metals. Based on molecular studies, the resistance that makes those fungi active colonizers and strong competitors may be related to the ability of
Trichoderma spp. to produce ABC protein transporters
[21]. Those proteins have the adenosine 5’-triphosphate-binding cassette (ATP). The energy released by them as a result of ATP hydrolysis is used to transport various types of substrates across the membrane or for processes not related to transport, such as RNA translation and DNA repair
[22]. As a result of overexpression of ABC transporter genes, the accumulation of toxins in the cells of
Trichoderma spp. is limited
[21].
3. Ways to Use Trichoderma spp.
Trichoderma spp. are currently sold in the form of biopesticdes, biofertilisers, and stimulants for growth and natural resistance. The effectiveness of these fungi can be attributed to their ability to protect plants, stimulate vegetative growth, and restrict the population of pathogens, as well as to act as substrate additives (inoculants) that improve nutrient uptake capacity. Live fungal spores (active substance) are incorporated into a variety of preparations (traditional, as well as innovative) that are used as solutions for spraying on the leaves, on seeds, and on young plants, in post-pruning treatments in the substrate for sowing or transplanting, as well as for watering or soaking of, e.g., spore organs such as tubers, bulbs, and rhizomes. Formulations based on
Trichoderma spp. are sold across the world and used to protect crops against various plant pathogens and to stimulate the growth and productivity of plants in various growing environments, such as fields, greenhouses, nurseries, and in the production of various horticultural crops, fruit crops, trees, and ornamental plants. Most bioproducts with
Trichoderma spp. are manufactured in Asia, followed by Europe, South-Central America, and North America. Most labels point to the fungicidal properties of these formulations; however, only 38% of the products available on the market have been registered. Ten
Trichoderma species have been specifically designated for the use on plants representing different groups; yet, many labels indicate that
Trichoderma spp. are offered as a mixture of different fungi of that genus. The most popular format of these formulations is a dampened powder made from a specific concentration of dried conidial spores of the fungus in the form of fine dust that requires mixing with water. Other common formats are granulated, liquid, and solid formulations
[23].
Individual
Trichoderma spp. fungi from self-culture or mixtures of those are also frequently used in studies. The inoculum of selected
Trichoderma fungi is prepared in the laboratory in sterile plastic Petri dishes with a diameter of 90 mm. PDA medium (16 mL) is placed in each dish. Once solidified, a 5 mm disc of medium that contains mycelium of the relevant isolate is placed in the central part of the dish. The disk is cut out from the 10-day culture. Then, the culture is incubated at 20 °C for three weeks, 20 mL of distilled water is poured onto the sporulating cultures, and the obtained suspension is poured into a flask. A spore suspension of
Trichoderma isolates is prepared using a three-week-old culture.
Trichoderma isolates are soaked in 20 mL of sterile distilled water and scraped off with a sterile copper rod. The suspension is filtered and the concentration of
Trichoderma spores in the mixture is adjusted to a concentration of 10
6 per ml using a haemocytometer and a light microscope
[24][25][26].
4. Root Colonization by Fungi of the Trichoderma Genus
Trichoderma spp. are fungi that are commonly found in soil and root ecosystems. Some strains colonize roots intensively and persistently by penetrating the top layers of the epidermis
[27]. Research shows that the intensity of root colonization by fungi of the
Trichoderma genus varies between species. Andrzejak and Janowska
[24] report that in both years of research, among treatments of
Gladiolus hybridus ‘Advances Red’, in which
Trichoderma spp. were used, 46.6% and 48.2% of plant roots were colonized by the fungi. A lower percentage of root colonization by
Trichoderma spp. was obtained by Janowska et al.
[25] in
Freesia reflacta ‘Argentea’ (32.0% and 33.0% in non-illuminated and illuminated plants) and by Andrzejak et al.
[26] in
Begonia ×
tuberhybrida ‘Picotee Sunburst’ (30.5%, 29.5%, and 30.0%, respectively, in plants subjected to late top dressing with Peters Professional Allrounder multi-component fertilizer). Prisa et al.
[27] pointed out that the colonization of plant roots with fungi of the
Trichoderma genus can be very high, as they proved in
Limonium sinuatum (100.0%). According to Błaszczyk et al.
[28], in the rhizosphere,
Trichoderma spp. colonize the external layers of the roots of herbaceous plants and trees. They also have the ability to penetrate and colonize within roots, or occur as endophytes. These authors used
Triticum aestivum as an example to demonstrate that a preliminary analysis of morphological, physiological, and metabolic changes indicates that there is no clear-cut plant response to fungi of the
Trichoderma genus. This may mean that changes taking place in plants depend both on the genus/strain of
Trichoderma spp. and on the cultivar of the species studied. According to Souza et al.
[29], interactions between the plant and the microbiota in the rhizosphere are key factors determining plant health, productivity, and soil fertility. Plant roots synthesize metabolites that are recognized by microorganisms which respond by producing signals that initiate microbial colonization
[30]. Plant roots also release sucrose, which is a source of energy to support colonization by microorganisms
[31][32]. As mentioned earlier,
Trichoderma stimulates root growth by producing auxins
[14]. During root colonization by
Trichoderma spp., genes such as ASA1 and MYB77 are induced. In the root, ethylene and auxin can regulate their biosynthetic pathways
[33]. According to Stepanova et al.
[34], IAA of
Trichoderma contributes to exogenous auxin-stimulated ethylene biosynthesis through 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylicacid synthase (ACC). In this model, the activity of
Trichoderma ACC desaturase (ACCD) reduces the availability of ACC necessary for ethylene biosynthesis, and the reduction of ethylene stimulates plant growth through gibberellin (GA) signaling, increasing the degradation of DELLA proteins, which are repressors of GA signaling. Moreover, GAs can control the onset of jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA)-dependent plant defense responses by regulating the degradation of DELLA proteins
[33]. Therefore, it seems that defense comes at the expense of growth. To confirm the above, recent studies have indicated new roles of JAZ and DELLA proteins in the regulation of JA-GA coupling, as well as the contradictory relationship between defense and growth. The positive effect of DELLA on JA signaling seems to take place at the level of JAZ repressors, as DELLA proteins interact with JAZ proteins and reduce their ability to repress MYC2
[35][36]. According to Brotman et al.
[37], when MYC2 undergoes significant changes, as demonstrated in their studies, during root colonization, growth is promoted through the degradation of DELLAs by GAs, whereas defense is repressed by JAZs repressing MYCs. This shifts the balance towards growth while allowing root colonization by
Trichoderma.
5. The Impact of Trichoderma spp. on the Quality of Ornamental Plants
Plant Height, Number of Shoots, and Leaves
Harman et al.
[38] claim that
Trichoderma fungi stimulate the growth of roots, as well as growth in the length and thickness of shoots and leaf surface. However, Lorito et al.
[39] indicate that the mechanisms supporting the beneficial effects of plant growth stimulation have not been fully explained and have been based on the suggestion that this stimulation is linked to increased nutrient availability. Andrzejak et al.
[26] have demonstrated that fungi of the
Trichoderma genus do not affect the height and number of shoots in
Begonia ×
tuberhybrida ‘Picotee Sunburst’, but they do stimulate leaf development in it. In the
Tulipa gesneriana ‘Golden Parade’,
Trichoderma spp. Have no impact on the number of leaves, but, depending on the fungus species used, they either stimulate or inhibit leaf blade elongation and influence its width
[40]. Using
T. harzianum T-22 in
Lantana camara stimulates the elongation and thickening of shoots and the development of leaves
[41]. Prisa
[42], on the other hand, states that
T. viride stimulates the elongation and formation of shoots and leaves, as well as the growth of the vegetative mass in plants of three species of the genus
Kalanchoe (
K.
pinnata,
K. tubiflora, and
K. gastonis-bonnieri).
6. Chloroplast Pigment Content in Leaves Following the Application of Trichoderma spp.
Chlorophylls are a widespread group of photosynthetic pigments found in higher plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Chlorophyll is a pigment that plays a key role in the normal course of photosynthesis, in which energy from light is converted into chemical bond energy as a result of the absorption of quanta of light in redox reactions
[43]. Therefore, the concentration of chlorophyll in leaves can have a direct influence on the photosynthetic process in a plant
[44]. Harman et al.
[45] suggested that the improvement of photosynthetic capability in plants, induced by various endophytic
Trichoderma spp., occurs as a result of an increase in the number of photosynthetic pigments or the expression of genes regulating the biosynthesis of chlorophyll, proteins in the light-harvesting complex, or components of the Calvin cycle. The colonization of crop roots by
Trichoderma spp. fungi causes greater regulation in genes and pigments that improve photosynthesis in plants. Plants under physiological or environmental stress lose the ability to photosynthesize, as photosystems get damaged, and many cellular processes get disrupted by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Yet, some strains of
Trichoderma spp. activate biochemical pathways that reduce ROS to less harmful molecules. This and other mechanisms make plants more resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. Moreover, when the indicators of photosynthesis are increased, more carbon dioxide (CO
2) gets absorbed from the atmosphere. Carotenoids, on the other hand, are responsible for the stability of lipid membranes, are involved in the accumulation of light during photosynthesis, and in the protection against photooxidation caused by the ROS formed during chlorophyll excitation during photosynthesis
[46][47]. The antioxidant effect of carotenoids on lipid membranes depends on their orientation, location, and organization in membranes. Polar and non-polar carotenoids impact on the structure and physiology of tissues in different ways. For example, astaxanthin, which is a polar substance, reduces lipid peroxidation by maintaining a rigid membrane structure
[48]. Carotenoids are distinguished by high activity against ROS and free radicals
[46].
Most research papers addressing the impact of
Trichoderma spp. on the content of chloroplast pigments in leaves refer to commercial, edible species
[49][50][51]. Yet, a few studies show that the stimulation of the formation of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll, carotenoids) by
Trichoderma spp. applies to ornamental plants too. Andrzejak and Janowska
[24] report that the content of chlorophyll a+b and carotenoids in the leaves of
Gladiolus hybridus ‘Advances Red’ increased significantly following the application of
Trichoderma spp. (by 66.7% for chlorophyll a+b and by 33.3% for carotenoids). The results obtained indicate that the photosynthetic capability improved in the ‘Advances Red’ cultivar. Andrzejak et al.
[26] report that
Trichoderma spp. stimulate the production of chlorophyll, whose content is reflected by the greenness index, in
Begonia ×
tuberhybrida ‘Picotee Sunburst’.