Home • Trichoderma harzianum M10 v1.0
Photo of Trichoderma harzianum M10 v1.0
T. harzianum strain M10 grown on PDA (25 °C, 5 days). Photo courtesy of: G. Manganiello, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.

Trichoderma harzianum is considered as an economically important species of Trichoderma, mainly known as biocontrol agent against plant-pathogenic fungi. This species produces numerous lytic enzymes such as chitinases, β-glucanases, cellulases, proteases that degrade the cell wall of phytopathogens, thus permitting mycoparasitism of the target host. It is nonpathogenic to humans. The fungus can be easily isolated, cultured and produced at an industrial scale. T. harzianum is also a producer of many secondary metabolites that contribute to the beneficial biological activities demonstrated by the fungus in various agricultural applications. T. harzianum strain M10 produces the secondary metabolite harzianic acid (HA), a nitrogen heterocyclic compound that has demonstrated various biological properties, including plant growth promotion, antimicrobial activity against different pathogens as well as an ability to chelate soil iron (Fe3+) thus facilitating its uptake by the plant.