Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Significance of Trichoderma harzianum Metabolites
Abstract
Currently, diseases are mainly managed by chemical pesticides. The use of these chemical pesticides causes environmental problems because they do not undergo biodegradation or degrade very slowly. Therefore, minimizing the use of pesticides has gained importance. To achieve this goal, biological control methods can be effectively combined with other disease control methods. Trichoderma sp. Soil-borne filamentous fungi are effective biocontrol agents against plant pathogens. The present investigation isolated antagonistic organisms and determined the antifungal activity of the antagonistic organisms in HPLC fractions of the mycelial extract. The antifungal activity of HPLC fractions of the mycelial extract were collected in separate vials; thereby, these HPLC fractions of the mycelial extract were analyzed by FT-IR, and many antibiotic compounds were identified. The FT-IRresults were then confirmed by GC-MS.
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Introduction
In recent years, Trichoderma spp. have been widely used in agriculture as biocontrol agents and inoculates to promote plant growth. They are involved inessential activities that ensure the stability and productivity of both agricultural and natural ecosystems. The potential of Trichoderma spp. to produce many volatile (e.g., pyrones, sesquiterpenes) and non-volatile secondary metabolites (e.g., peptaibols) has been reviewed by Reino et al. (2007). Volatile secondary metabolites have been shown to playa key role in the mycoparasitism of Trichoderma and its interaction with plants (Vinale et al., 2008). It is clear that the properties of Trichoderma to inhibit the growth of other fungi are likely due to the combined action of cell-wall degrading enzymes along with the ability of Trichoderma to produce different secondary metabolites. In some countries, there are several commercial formulations available to prevent diseases in crops as well as in economically important forest trees. 1.1 Pharmacological/Biological importance of different groups of secondary metabolites from Trichoderma: Trichoderma spp, have also been reported to produce a plethora of secondary metabolites showing antimicrobial activity (Vinale et al., 2008). The chemical composition of these compounds depends on the strains, and they may be classified as volatile, water-soluble, or water-insoluble compounds (Ghisalberti & Sivasithamparam, 1991). The first demonstration of induced resistance was reported in 1997 (Bigirimana), who described the acquisition of resistance of bean plants towards Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum lindemuthianum after inoculation of the root with the strain T-39 of Trichoderma harzianum (Yedidia, Benhamou & Chet, 1999).
Species of Trichoderma have been demonstrated in vitro to act against fungal plant pathogens by producing diffusible volatile antibiotics. Vey, Hoagland & Butt (2001) reported that there are large varieties of volatile secondary metabolites produced by Trichoderma such as ethylene, hydrogen cyanide, aldehydes, and ketones which play an important role in controlling the plant pathogens (Bhagat Someshwar et al., 2014). Many species of Trichoderma are useful biocontrol organisms known to enhance crop yields and control soil-borne pathogens when added to soils. Our recent studies demonstrate that T. harzianum may be able to control the soil-borne pathogen. The aims of this study were to demonstrate that Trichoderma VOCs are a major factor in plant growth promotion and biocontrol. Finally, we characterized the volatile compounds identified by using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. In addition, the identification of their biological activities such as anticancer and antiviral activities had been evaluated.
Conclusion
The GC-MSanalysis of the ethyl acetonitrile extract of Trichoderma harzianum has revealed the presence of a diverse range of bioactive volatile compounds, including Triazole, Imidazole, Thiazole, Pyrazole, Indole, Naphthalene, Furan derivatives, Pyrimidine, Thiophene, Quinoline, Pyridine, and Piperazine. These compounds exhibit significant potential for antimicrobial applications, indicating the pharmaceutical relevance of T. harzianum. Many of these metabolites can be isolated, purified, and chemically modified to enhance their efficacy against human pathogens. The findings highlight the role of T. harzianum as a promising source of natural antimicrobial agents, which could contribute to the development of novel drugs in combating infectious diseases.
In addition to their pharmaceutical applications, the bioactive compounds identified in this study also demonstrate considerable potential in agricultural and environmental sectors. The insecticidal, nematicidal, and pesticidal properties of these compounds provide an opportunity to develop sustainable and eco-friendly pest management strategies. Furthermore, their potential in pesticide degradation and herbicide formulation positions T. harzianum as a valuable tool in reducing chemical residues in the environment and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Overall, T. harzianum emerges as a versatile microbial resource with applications spanning pharmaceuticals, pest control, and environmental management. The ability to harness its bioactive metabolites paves the way for innovative solutions to address challenges in health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. Future research should focus on the isolation and structural characterization of these compounds, along with in-depth studies on their mechanisms of action, to unlock their full potential and practical applicability.
