Engineering Trichoderma-mediated plant defense against bacterial phytopathogens: Micro-and nanobiotechnological strategies

Bacterial phytopathogens such as Ralstonia, Xanthomonas, and Pectobacterium pose a serious threat to global food security, while overuse of chemical pesticides has led to resistance and environmental concerns. Trichoderma, traditionally known for antifungal activity, is emerging as a versatile antagonist of bacterial diseases through antibacterial metabolites, immune response, nutrient competition, and rhizosphere modulation. Multi-omics advances have revealed novel biosynthetic gene clusters and host interaction mechanisms, while CRISPR-based genome editing and synthetic biology approaches are enabling the tailored strains with enhanced biocontrol efficiency. Nanotechnology further contributes by facilitating nanoparticle-mediated biosynthesis and controlled-release formulations, improving stability and targeted field delivery. Despite remaining challenges related to field translation, biosafety, and regulation, the integration of omics, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology establishes Trichoderma as a next-generation platform for sustainable and precision crop protection.