Soil-borne pathogenic fungi responsible for serious damage in agriculture are widely distributed. Traditional approach to control these pathogens leads to the use of chemical fungicides, many of which have proven harmful side effects on the environment. Mycoparasitic fungi of the genus Trichoderma have been used for pathogens biocontrol as well as for their ability to promote plant growth. As increased mycoparasitic activity of mutant strain Trichoderma atroviride F742 has been observed, its use as a biocontrol agent might be considered. In this work, we focused on mycoparasitic activity of the strain T. atroviride F742 prepared by UV mutagenesis (from parental strain T. atroviride F534) and the physiological role of T. atroviride metabolites in antibiosis.
T. atroviride F742 shows remarkable mycoparasitic activity attacking and colonizing phytopathogens (Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium culmorum). Its isolated metabolites inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi Candida albicans, A. alternata and F. culmorum. As different expression patterns in the secondary metabolites production of ABC transporters have been observed, we suggest their role in transport of secondary metabolites produced by T. atroviride F742.
