Genetic basis of mycoparasitism: a mechanism of biological control by species of Trichoderma

Biocontrol of fungal plant pathogens through the use of mycoparasitic fungi is an environmentally sustainable approach to management of plant diseases. Mycoparasitism by Trichoderma spp. primarily involves production of cell-wall degrading enzymes. Isolation and characterisation of the corresponding genes have revealed major insights into the underlying genetic basis of mycoparasitism, implicating various regulatory pathways such as carbon and nitrogen catabolite repression. A summary is presented here of the current state of knowledge in molecular regulation of mycoparasitism by Trichoderma species.