Our data indicate that the amount of secondary metabolites
produced in T. harzianum may depend on the state
of the host as well as on the following important factors:
(i) the strain considered; (ii) the eliciting microbe or condition;
and (iii) the balance between biosynthesis and biotransformation
of the metabolite. The understanding and
manipulation of the above issues will improve the production
process of natural compounds secreted by antagonistic
fungi or other microbes. The direct application of
the relative eliciting molecules may represent a novel
approach to develop biopesticides and biofertilizers based
on bioactive compounds.