Fuente: PubMed "microbial biotechnology" Front Fungal Biol. 2026 Jun 26;7:1851718. doi: 10.3389/ffunb.2026.1851718. eCollection 2026.ABSTRACTFungal diseases caused by Alternaria species are major constraints to the productivity and quality of horticultural crops worldwide, resulting in significant yield losses, quality degradation, and postharvest challenges. Conventional management primarily relies on chemical fungicides; however, their extensive use raises concerns related to environmental contamination, pathogen resistance, and risks to human health. Consequently, increasing attention has shifted toward environmentally sustainable approaches such as microbial biological control agents. Among these, Trichoderma spp. have emerged as promising eco-friendly biocontrol agents due to their multifunctional interactions with plants and soil microbiomes. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the role of Trichoderma spp. in managing Alternaria-caused diseases in horticultural crops. Specific emphasis is placed on key mechanisms, including mycoparasitism, antibiosis through secondary metabolites, competition for nutrients and space, and the induction of systemic resistance in host plants. Evidence from in vitro, greenhouse, and field studies demonstrates that Trichoderma spp. can effectively suppress Alternaria pathogens while simultaneously enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance. However, the effectiveness of Trichoderma-based biocontrol strategies is influenced by environmental conditions, strain specificity, formulation stability, and interactions with indigenous microbial communities. Future research should focus on optimizing strain selection, developing robust formulations and delivery methods, and applying advanced genomic and metabolomic approaches to enhance the consistency and effectiveness of Trichoderma-based biocontrol in sustainable horticultural disease management.PMID:42434195 | PMC:PMC13350528 | DOI:10.3389/ffunb.2026.1851718