''Trichoderma viride'' is a

fungus A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

and a biofungicide. It is used for seed- and soil treatment for suppression of various diseases caused by

fungal pathogen Pathogenic fungi are fungi that cause disease in humans or other organisms. Although fungi are eukaryotic, many pathogenic fungi are microorganisms. Approximately 300 fungi are known to be pathogenic to humans; their study is called "medical mycolo ...

Biology

''T. viride'' is a mold which produces spores asexually, by mitosis. It is the anamorph of ''Hypocrea rufa'', its teleomorph, which is the sexual reproductive stage of the fungus and produces a typical fungal fruiting body. The mycelium of ''T. viride'' can produce a variety of enzymes, including

cellulase Cellulase (; systematic name 4-β-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase) is any of several enzymes produced chiefly by fungi, bacteria, and protozoans that catalyze cellulolysis, the decomposition of cellulose and of some related polysaccharides: : Endo ...

s and

chitinase Chitinases (, chitodextrinase, 1,4-β-poly-N-acetylglucosaminidase, poly-β-glucosaminidase, β-1,4-poly-N-acetyl glucosamidinase, poly ,4-(N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminide)glycanohydrolase, (1→4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucan glycanohydrola ...

s which can degrade cellulose and chitin respectively. The mould can grow directly on wood, which is mostly composed of cellulose, and on fungi, the cell walls of which are mainly composed of

chitin Chitin (carbon, C8hydrogen, H13oxygen, O5nitrogen, N)n ( ) is a long-chain polymer of N-Acetylglucosamine, ''N''-acetylglucosamine, an amide derivative of glucose. Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature (behind only cell ...

. It parasitizes the

mycelia Mycelium (: mycelia) is a root-like structure of a fungus consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. Its normal form is that of branched, slender, entangled, anastomosing, hyaline threads. Fungal colonies composed of mycelium are fo ...

and fruiting bodies of other fungi, including cultivated

mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing Sporocarp (fungi), fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. ''Toadstool'' generally refers to a poisonous mushroom. The standard for the n ...

s, and it has been called the "green mould disease of mushrooms". The affected mushrooms are distorted and unattractive in appearance and the crop is reduced.Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month
/ref> Trichoderma viride is the causal agent of green mold rot of onion. A strain of Trichoderma viride is a known cause of dieback of Pinus nigra seedlings.

Uses

The fungicidal activity makes ''T. viride'' useful as a biological control against plant pathogenic fungi. It has been shown to provide protection against such pathogens as '' Rhizoctonia'', '' Pythium'' and even '' Armillaria''. It is found naturally in soil and is effective as a seed dressing in the control of seed and soil-borne diseases including ''

Rhizoctonia solani ''Rhizoctonia solani'' is a species of fungus in the order Cantharellales. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are thin, effused, and web-like, but the fungus is more typically encountered in its anamorphic state, as hyphae and sclerotia. The name ' ...

'', ''

Macrophomina phaseolina ''Macrophomina phaseolina'' is a Botryosphaeriaceae plant pathogen fungus that causes damping off, seedling blight, collar rot, stem rot, charcoal rot, basal stem rot, and root rot on many plant species. Hosts, symptoms, and signs One of th ...

'' and ''

Fusarium ''Fusarium'' (; ) is a large genus of filamentous fungi, part of a group often referred to as hyphomycetes, widely distributed in soil and associated with plants. Most species are harmless saprobes, and are relatively abundant members of the s ...

'' species. When it is applied at the same time as the seed, it colonizes the seed surface and kills not only the pathogens present on the

cuticle A cuticle (), or cuticula, is any of a variety of tough but flexible, non-mineral outer coverings of an organism, or parts of an organism, that provide protection. Various types of "cuticle" are non- homologous, differing in their origin, structu ...

, but also provides protection against soil-borne pathogens. A closely related species, '' Trichoderma reesei'', is used in the creation of stonewashed jeans.Heikinheimo, L., Buchert, J., Miettinen-Oinonen, A., & Suominen, P. (2000). Treating Denim Fabrics with Trichoderma Reesei Cellulases. Textile Research Journal, 70(11), 969–973. https://doi.org/10.1177/004051750007001106 The

produced by the fungus partially degrade the cotton material in places, making it soft and causing the jeans to look as if they had been washed using stones.

References

External links

Index Fungorum

USDA ARS Fungal Database
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3915697 Fungal plant pathogens and diseases Root vegetable diseases Trichoderma Fungi of Europe Fungi described in 1794 Taxa named by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon Fungus species