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Biology and Application of Chaetomium globosum as a Biocontrol Agent: Current Status and Future Prospects

Summary

Chaetomium globosum is a common soil fungus that shows great potential for protecting crops from diseases and pests naturally. This review explains how it works—by producing toxic compounds against harmful fungi, directly attacking pathogens, and boosting plants’ own defense systems. When applied to seeds or soil, it has reduced crop diseases by up to 73% in field tests while also improving soil health and crop yields, making it a promising alternative to chemical fungicides.

Background

Chaetomium globosum is a saprotrophic fungus recognized for producing secondary metabolites and playing significant ecological roles in nutrient cycling. In recent years, this fungus has attracted scientific interest as a potential biocontrol agent against various plant diseases affecting numerous crop species.

Objective

This review examines C. globosum as a biocontrol agent, focusing on its mechanisms of action including genomics, transcriptomics, and effects on soil health and the rhizosphere microbiome. The review aims to synthesize current knowledge and identify future research directions for sustainable agricultural applications.

Results

C. globosum effectively controls multiple plant diseases including wheat spot blotch, potato late blight, apple scab, and root rots through antibiosis, mycoparasitism, and competition. Field trials demonstrated biocontrol efficacy ranging from 26-73% depending on location and variety, with yield increases of 3.2-11.9%. The fungus also promotes plant growth and beneficial soil microbiome composition.

Conclusion

C. globosum demonstrates significant promise as a biocontrol agent with multiple modes of action and plant-beneficial properties. Enhanced genomic research, strain screening, and understanding of RNA silencing mechanisms could optimize its biocontrol efficacy and integration into sustainable crop production systems.
  • Published in:Microorganisms,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 40732155
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