Question

The free-living fungus Trichoderma can be used for:
A. killing insects
B. biological control of plant diseases
C. controlling butterfly caterpillars
D. producing antibiotics

Answer 1

Hint: Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that include microorganisms like moulds, yeasts, and mushrooms. These organisms are categorised under kingdom fungi. The organisms found in Kingdom fungi have a cell wall and are omnipresent. They are categorised as heterotrophs among living organisms.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Trichoderma species are widespread filamentous fungi in soils, on plant roots, and on rotting plant residues. Trichoderma is a genus of fungi that is found in most kinds of soils, where they are the most common culturable fungi. Trichoderma species are free-living fungi that are extremely common in root ecosystems. They are efficient biocontrol agents of several plant pathogens such as Phytopthora, Fusarium, etc, and are used in the treatment of diseases in plants. Fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma are used as successful plant growth enhancers, biofertilizers, biostimulants, and as effective biocontrol agents against different pathogens.
Pesticides are a class of chemicals that are intended to kill pests (insects, rodents, or plants) that can affect agricultural crops or carry diseases such as typhus and malaria.
Microbial biocontrol agents were introduced to control butterfly caterpillars is the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. These are available in sachets as dehydrated spores that are mixed with water and sprinkled onto vulnerable plants like Brassica and fruit trees, where the insect larvae consume these.
Antibiotics are antimicrobial drugs obtained from other organisms (like fungus, moulds, and some soil bacteria) to combat harmful microorganisms. Though, they are not very useful against specific microbes like viruses.

Therefore the correct answer is Option B.
Note: Trichoderma employs various mechanisms to remove fungal pathogens in its habitat. Some of these comprise competition with the fungi for nutrients and space, the release of antibiotics, parasitic action on the fungi, and induction of the plant immune system.