Molecular methods unravel the biosynthetic potential of Trichoderma species

Members of the genus Trichoderma are a well-established and studied group of fungi, mainly due to their efficient protein production capabilities and their biocontrol activities. Despite the immense interest in the use of different members of this species as biopesticides and biofertilizers, the study of their active metabolites and their biosynthetic gene clusters has not gained significant attention until recently. Here we review the challenges and opportunities in exploiting the full potential of Trichoderma spp. for the production of natural products and new metabolic engineering strategies used to overcome some of these challenges.

Automated summary

Members of the genus Trichoderma have attracted widespread attention due to their efficient protein production capabilities and biocontrol activities, yet the study of their active metabolites and biosynthetic gene clusters has only recently gained significant attention. The challenges and opportunities in utilizing the full potential of Trichoderma spp. for natural product production, along with new metabolic engineering strategies, are discussed in this review.