Trichoderma as a biological control agent against Colletotrichum -associated plant diseases: current insights and future perspectives

Colletotrichum species are a taxonomically complex group of hemibiotrophic fungi that cause anthracnose diseases, posing a major constraint to global crop productivity. Their broad host range, high genetic diversity, and ability to shift between biotrophic and necrotrophic phases complicate effective disease management. Although synthetic fungicides are widely used, their prolonged application has raised concerns regarding pathogen resistance, environmental contamination, and food safety, driving the search for sustainable approaches. Unlike previous reviews that mainly discuss Colletotrichum biology or Trichoderma biocontrol mechanisms separately, this review integrates pathogen taxonomy and infection biology with mechanistic, applied, and future-oriented perspectives on Trichoderma-based anthracnose management. Evidence from laboratory, greenhouse, field, and postharvest studies indicates that Trichoderma has promising potential for suppressing Colletotrichum, particularly under controlled conditions, although its efficacy remains influenced by environmental factors, strain specificity, formulation stability, and application method. Integrating Trichoderma-based products into disease management systems offers a promising strategy to reduce chemical inputs and enhance crop resilience. Future research should focus on multi-omics approaches, strain optimization, formulation development, and field validation to ensure consistent performance across diverse agroecosystems.