Trichoderma: Biology and Applications

Prof. Dr. Prasun K. Mukherjee, with over 30 years of engagement in Trichoderma research, has authored more than 90 research papers (h-index 38) and developed two commercial formulations. Elected as a fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Prof. Mukherjee has received various national and international awards. Serving as a Visiting Scientist to the Israel Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University, he is also on the editorial board of three international journals and has edited three books for CABI and Springer Publishers.

Prof. Dr. Irina S. Druzhinina is Senior Research Leader at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, UK, leading the Group of Fungal Diversity and Systematics. She has over 20 years of dedicated work in Trichoderma research and has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and edited five books. Her mission is to integrate applied microbiology and biotechnology with fungal systematics and evolution for a comprehensive understanding of fungal biology, hazard prediction, and improved conservation of fungal diversity. Irina's pioneering work includes the development of DNA barcoding for molecular identification and research on Trichoderma genomics, mycoparasitism, and surface-active proteins such as hydrophobins and cerato-platanins. With a background in classical mycology, she earned her master's and doctoral degrees at the University of Vienna. She has held tenured positions at Vienna University of Technology, Austria, and Nanjing Agricultural University, China.