Metabolitos secundarios de Trichoderma spp.: importancia en la industria agrícola, farmacéutica y alimentaria

Abstract

The fungal genus Trichoderma spp. has generated great interest in research and industry due to its versatility. Its cosmopolitan
distribution and rapid growth make it a biofactory of chemical compounds with relevance in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and the
food industry. In agriculture, Trichoderma acts as a biocontroller, plant growth promoter and degrader of lignocellulosic materials, contributing significantly to the improvement of soil health and quality and being a crucial strategy to cope with the effects of climate change. In pharmacology, its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties are fundamental for the development and formulation of pharmaceuticals, functional foods and nutraceuticals. for FurthermoreIn addition, in the food industry, it stands out for its antioxidant and antifungal functions, essential for food preservation and safety. These applications are possible due to the production of secondary metabolites by the fungus, including harzanic acid, alamethicins, harziandione, trichothecene, trichodermin, harzianum A, tricholins, peptaibols, 6-pentyl-α-pyrone, gliovirin, heptadecanoic acid, formic aldehyde, glyoxin and viridin. In addition, the most studied strains include T. harzianum T22 and P66, T. atroviride S361, T. virens, T. pertersensii, T. hamatum, as well as T. reesei strains QM6a and RUT C-30 (metabolic models) and T. lignorium UAMH 50681. All these benefits are possible thanks to the production of these chemical compounds, as well as the ease of controlled production and the adaptability of the species of this genus, which makes them an efficient strategy for economic, environmental and pharmaceutical benefit. This paper discusses the various applications of Trichoderma, its most relevant metabolites and the most studied strains in the agricultural, food and pharmaceutical fields.