Trichoderma as an efficacious bioagent for combating biotic and abiotic stresses of wheat-A review.

Several environmental stresses are the major hindrances in achieving the attainable yield in wheat crop. The actual losses due to biotic stresses is estimated in the range of 26-29%, however, abiotic stresses have more adverse effects on crop yield and are responsible for about 70% of yield reduction worldwide. Agrochemicals are widely considered as an effective management strategy for wheat crop diseases and insect pests but they adversely affect the human and animal health due to accumulation of chemical residues in the soil, plant tissues and grains. Hence, there is a need for alternate management strategies to protect crop plants against various stresses. Species of the genus Trichoderma are economically important as biocontrol agents, serving as a potential alternative to agrochemicals for overcoming the biotic and abiotic stresses. The importance of Trichoderma in alleviating the myriad of biotic and abiotic stresses of wheat is discussed in this review article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]