Trichoderma gets by with a little help from Streptomyces: fungal–bacterial symbiosis in plant growth promotion

Plant–microbe interactions are crucial for plant health and agricultural sustainability. Trichoderma species are common soil and root fungi that have been widely studied due to their capacity to produce antibiotics, parasitize other fungi, and compete with deleterious plant microorganisms, but they are also emerging as promising plant growth promoters. Kabir et al. (2024) revealed that Trichoderma afroharzianum T22 promotes sorghum growth through local signalling and by modulating the plant transcriptome and microbiome. The study showed how the intricate interplay among T. afroharzianum, helper microbes such as Streptomyces, and the sorghum host drives symbiotic growth promotion.