Cell Breakthrough | Unlocking the Core Mechanism of Trichoderma Growth Promotion and Opening a New Track for Green Agricultural Yield Increase

On July 23, 2026, the research team led by Academician Shen Qirong from Nanjing Agricultural University published a landmark study in the top international journal Cell. The research systematically unravels the long-standing mystery of how Trichoderma promotes crop growth. It clarifies a novel molecular pathway through which Trichoderma harzianum regulates crop development and validates the precise mechanism via domestically developed in vivo detection technology. Achieving dual breakthroughs in theoretical innovation and field yield improvement, this study provides a brand-new technical paradigm for global green planting, fertilizer efficiency enhancement, and eco-friendly agricultural development.

1. Research Background: Completing the Mechanistic Shortfalls of Microbial Agriculture

As a mature and widely applied beneficial microbial resource in agriculture, Trichoderma plays a vital role in root system improvement, seedling growth promotion, stress resistance enhancement and disease prevention, and is extensively adopted in bio-fertilizer and ecological planting scenarios. However, the agricultural industry has long been able to verify its positive field effects without clarifying its core functional factors and plant regulatory mechanisms. The lack of clear technical principles has restricted the refined upgrading and large-scale promotion of related biological products.

Furthermore, the polar transport of auxin is critical to crop root development and yield formation. The physiological function of the AtABCB5 transporter protein has remained undefined, representing a key research gap in plant growth regulation. Targeting these two core industrial challenges, the team accomplished a systematic, full-chain scientific breakthrough.

2. Core Innovations: Building a Closed Loop from Molecular Mechanism to In Vivo Verification

2.1 Identification of the Core Functional Factor for Trichoderma-Mediated Growth Promotion

Through multi-dimensional screening and genetic functional verification, the research team identified the ThSWO swollenin protein secreted by Trichoderma harzianum as the core functional factor driving plant growth promotion. A series of controlled experiments confirmed that ThSWO is essential for Trichoderma to exert its growth-promoting effects. Notably, the purified ThSWO protein alone, independent of fungal bodies, can effectively facilitate crop root growth and lateral root formation, verifying its independent and pivotal growth-promoting value.

2.2 Updated Cognition: Functional Protein Regulates Plant Growth Signals Across Boundaries

Traditional academic theories hold that swollenin only physically loosens plant cell walls. Using multiple microscopic observation techniques, this study innovatively proves that ThSWO can penetrate plant cell walls, accurately localize to the plant plasma membrane, and participate in the regulation of endogenous growth signals. The team further confirmed AtABCB5 as the core target of ThSWO, and for the first time verified that AtABCB5 functions as an auxin efflux transporter, filling a major functional research gap in the ABC transporter protein family.

2.3 Core Regulatory Mechanism: Phosphorylation Modulation Activates Yield Enhancement Pathways

The study further elucidates a clear hierarchical molecular regulatory mechanism. Through specific binding, ThSWO induces phosphorylation modification at key amino acid sites of AtABCB5, significantly boosting plant auxin transport efficiency. This sequentially triggers a series of positive growth responses, including cell wall acidification, cell elongation and root proliferation, completely revealing the underlying molecular logic of Trichoderma-induced crop growth promotion and yield increase.

2.4 Empowerment of Domestic NMT Technology: Realizing In Vivo Dynamic Mechanistic Verification

Different from traditional in vitro experiments that can only infer mechanisms, this study adopts China’s original Non-invasive Micro-test Technology (NMT) and the imOmics ion-molecular omics system. It enables real-time monitoring of dynamic ion and auxin flux on crop root surfaces while maintaining the integrity of living plant tissues.

Leveraging high-precision in vivo dynamic data, the team precisely identified the exclusive ThSWO-AtABCB5 regulatory pathway and eliminated the interference of alternative bypass mechanisms. Meanwhile, it clearly distinguished two independent regulatory pathways: endogenous plant regulation and Trichoderma protein-mediated regulation. This upgrades the growth-promoting mechanism from academic speculation to observable and verifiable solid evidence, fully demonstrating the significant role of domestic in vivo detection technology in cutting-edge life science research.

3. Field Application: Broad-Spectrum Yield Increase Across Crops with Huge Industrial Potential

The greatest practical value of this research lies in the in-depth integration of top-tier basic research and agricultural production. It delivers stable and broad-spectrum yield-increasing effects on both grain and cash crops, showing prominent field application prospects:

Rice: The yield of ThSWO-overexpressing lines increased by 41.3%
Corn: Exogenous protein application increased yield by 7.9%
Wheat: Exogenous protein application increased yield by 6.7%
Green vegetables: Exogenous protein application increased yield by 13.5%
Radish: Exogenous protein application increased yield by 35.2%

Without relying on increased chemical fertilizer input, this technology boosts crop quality and yield by activating plants’ inherent growth potential. It highly conforms to the development needs of low-carbon, fertilizer-efficient modern agriculture, providing a practical and replicable new technical solution for bio-fertilizer upgrading, crop trait improvement and ecological planting system optimization.

4. Industrial Significance: Reshaping the Innovation Paradigm of Microbial Agriculture

This top-tier research breakthrough breaks the traditional framework whereby microorganisms regulate plant growth indirectly. It establishes an innovative regulatory model in which fungal functional proteins directly target host growth and transport systems. The findings not only enrich the basic theoretical system of plant-microbe interaction, but also solve the industrial pain points of ambiguous mechanisms and extensive application of biological growth-promoting technologies. It provides solid theoretical support for the standardized R&D, precise application and industrial promotion of microbial agricultural technologies.

5. Enterprise Empowerment: Deepening Technology Transformation to Root Green Agriculture

The ultimate value of cutting-edge agricultural scientific research lies in moving out of the laboratory and serving large-scale agriculture. As a professional institution focused on the introduction, transformation and promotion of modern agricultural technologies, Yuncho Trade continuously focuses on global cutting-edge agricultural innovations. We deeply engage in core tracks including microbial agriculture, green yield enhancement and ecological planting, striving to build a complete industrial chain that connects scientific research achievements with industrial and field application.

Moving forward, Yuncho Trade will keep track of the iteration and upgrading of high-quality agricultural biotechnologies. Supported by our industrial resources and professional service capabilities, we will continuously promote efficient, green and low-carbon modern agricultural technologies and products. We commit to driving the popularization and field implementation of top scientific research achievements, empowering agricultural quality improvement, efficiency enhancement and industrial upgrading via professional technical services, and contributing to rural revitalization and the sustainable development of modern agriculture.