title: Ecological functions of Trichoderma spp. and their secondary metabolites in the rhizosphere: interactions with plants.
abstract: Trichodermaspp. are common soil and root inhabitants that have been widely studied due to their capacity to produce antibiotics, parasitize other fungi and compete with deleterious plant microorganisms. These fungi produce a number of secondary metabolites such as non-ribosomal peptides, terpenoids, pyrones and indolic-derived compounds. In the rhizosphere, the exchange and recognition of signaling molecules byTrichodermaand plants may alter physiological and biochemical aspects in both. For example, severalTrichodermastrains induce root branching and increase shoot biomass as a consequence of cell division, expansion and differentiation by the presence of fungal auxin-like compounds. Furthermore,Trichoderma, in association with plant roots, can trigger systemic resistance and improve plant nutrient uptake. The present review describes the most recent advances in understanding the ecological functions ofTrichodermaspp. in the rhizosphere at biochemical and molecular levels with special emphasis on their associations with plants. Finally, through a synthesis of the current body of work, we present potential future research directions on studies related toTrichodermaspp. and their secondary metabolites in agroecosystems.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Ex-Hacienda de San José de La Huerta, CP 58190 Morelia, Michoacán, México hcontreras@cieco.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Hexon Angel
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Contreras-Cornejo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Gral. Francisco J. Mujica S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 58030 Morelia, Michoacán, México.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macías-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Ex-Hacienda de San José de La Huerta, CP 58190 Morelia, Michoacán, México.
authors.forename: Ek
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: del-Val
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Ex-Hacienda de San José de La Huerta, CP 58190 Morelia, Michoacán, México.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larsen
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D004463:Ecology; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology*; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology; D058441:Rhizosphere; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007210:Indoleacetic Acids
keywords: Trichoderma; rhizosphere; secondary metabolites