Antifungal activity of trichoderma asperellum and a profile of its volatile organic compounds

Members of the genus Trichoderma have great biotechnological potential as the basis of biological products for crop production. These species have the ability to form conidia, which can remain viable for a long time under adverse environmental conditions; high growth rate; low inertia, which manifests itself in the rapid activation of spores and the ^explosive nature of growth on rich substrates; low demands on environmental conditions; attraction to acidic pH values and, accordingly, the ability to manifest its biological activity in acidic soils; the ability of hyperparasitism on phytopathogenic fungi, which together with the production of antibiotic substances provides effectively protection to crop plants. The present study describes the antigungal activity of Trichoderma asperellum and its volatile metabolites against Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria alternata. Metabolites like 1-Octen-3-one; 1-Octen-3-o; o-Xylene; 3-heptanone; 6-methyl-; Nonanal; 1-Hexanol, 2-ethyl- were also isolated from broth cutlres of T. asperellum. (author)