azaphilones identified in extracts from T. harzianum with inhibitory activity against
the binding of regulation of virion expression-proteins to RRE RNA [123].
Harzialactones A and B are two hydroxylactones isolated from T. harzianum
[124]. T. virens produces virone, a steroidal antibiotic compound that possesses a
furan ring; such metabolite also can inhibit the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [125,
126]. Wortmannolone is also produced by T. virens, and such compound can inhibit
the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; this compound could be used in neoplasms, in
humans [16, 125]. Undoubtedly, Trichoderma fungi produce a plethora of secondary
metabolites of different classes and are of great interest in the field of the medicine.
For this reason it is crucial the discovery and characterization of fungal-derived
molecules.
5
Conclusions
Chemical and pharmacological studies of secondary metabolites from different
Trichoderma species have shown that these fungi produce a number of compounds with potential application in medicine, biotechnology, and agriculture.
Generally, these chemical variations are correlated with the fungal lifestyle. In
terms of Trichoderma-plant interactions, the fungi can alter plant growth, activate
defense responses, and solubilize unavailable soil nutrients. Such effects might be
induced through direct or indirect mechanisms involving classical plant growth
regulator auxins, ABA and ET. Moreover, siderophores released by Trichoderma
also play key roles in plant growth and can control plant pathogens by depriving
iron to other rhizosphere microorganisms. Proteinaceous compounds as sm1 or
Epl1 from T. virens and T. atroviride, respectively, are potent elicitors of systemic
resistance. However, it remains to be seen what is the biological function of a
myriad of Trichoderma secondary metabolites. The use of analytical techniques
will be useful to elucidate new compounds to be used in the medicine or
agriculture.
Acknowledgments We thank Carlos Cortés-Penagos (UMSNH) for kindly providing us with
T. virens Gv29-8. We apologize to colleagues whose relevant work we were unable to cite owing
to space limitations. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
References
1. Zeilinger S, Gruber S, Bansal R, Mukherjee PK (2016) Secondary metabolism in
Trichoderma-Chemistry meets genomics. Fungal Biol Rev 30:74–90. https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.fbr.2016.05.001
2. Harman GE (2006) Overview of mechanisms and uses of Trichoderma spp. Phytopathology
96:190–194. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-96-0190
3. Kubicek CP, Herrera-Estrella A, Seidl-Seiboth V, Martinez DA, Druzhinina IS, Thon M,
Zeilinger S, Casas-Flores S, Horwitz BA, Mukherjee PK, Mukherjee M, Kredics L, Alcaraz
LD, Aerts A, Antal Z, Atanasova L, Cervantes-Badillo MG, Challacombe J, Chertkov O,
McCluskey K, Coulpier F, Deshpande N, von Döhren H, Ebbole DJ, Esquivel-Naranjo EU,
Fekete E, Flipphi M, Glaser F, Gómez-Rodríguez EY, Gruber S, Han C, Henrissat B, Hermosa
282
H. A. Contreras-Cornejo et al.
the binding of regulation of virion expression-proteins to RRE RNA [123].
Harzialactones A and B are two hydroxylactones isolated from T. harzianum
[124]. T. virens produces virone, a steroidal antibiotic compound that possesses a
furan ring; such metabolite also can inhibit the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [125,
126]. Wortmannolone is also produced by T. virens, and such compound can inhibit
the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; this compound could be used in neoplasms, in
humans [16, 125]. Undoubtedly, Trichoderma fungi produce a plethora of secondary
metabolites of different classes and are of great interest in the field of the medicine.
For this reason it is crucial the discovery and characterization of fungal-derived
molecules.
5
Conclusions
Chemical and pharmacological studies of secondary metabolites from different
Trichoderma species have shown that these fungi produce a number of compounds with potential application in medicine, biotechnology, and agriculture.
Generally, these chemical variations are correlated with the fungal lifestyle. In
terms of Trichoderma-plant interactions, the fungi can alter plant growth, activate
defense responses, and solubilize unavailable soil nutrients. Such effects might be
induced through direct or indirect mechanisms involving classical plant growth
regulator auxins, ABA and ET. Moreover, siderophores released by Trichoderma
also play key roles in plant growth and can control plant pathogens by depriving
iron to other rhizosphere microorganisms. Proteinaceous compounds as sm1 or
Epl1 from T. virens and T. atroviride, respectively, are potent elicitors of systemic
resistance. However, it remains to be seen what is the biological function of a
myriad of Trichoderma secondary metabolites. The use of analytical techniques
will be useful to elucidate new compounds to be used in the medicine or
agriculture.
Acknowledgments We thank Carlos Cortés-Penagos (UMSNH) for kindly providing us with
T. virens Gv29-8. We apologize to colleagues whose relevant work we were unable to cite owing
to space limitations. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
References
1. Zeilinger S, Gruber S, Bansal R, Mukherjee PK (2016) Secondary metabolism in
Trichoderma-Chemistry meets genomics. Fungal Biol Rev 30:74–90. https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.fbr.2016.05.001
2. Harman GE (2006) Overview of mechanisms and uses of Trichoderma spp. Phytopathology
96:190–194. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-96-0190
3. Kubicek CP, Herrera-Estrella A, Seidl-Seiboth V, Martinez DA, Druzhinina IS, Thon M,
Zeilinger S, Casas-Flores S, Horwitz BA, Mukherjee PK, Mukherjee M, Kredics L, Alcaraz
LD, Aerts A, Antal Z, Atanasova L, Cervantes-Badillo MG, Challacombe J, Chertkov O,
McCluskey K, Coulpier F, Deshpande N, von Döhren H, Ebbole DJ, Esquivel-Naranjo EU,
Fekete E, Flipphi M, Glaser F, Gómez-Rodríguez EY, Gruber S, Han C, Henrissat B, Hermosa
282
H. A. Contreras-Cornejo et al.