Multifaceted roles of Clonostachys rosea in nematode biocontrol: Mechanistic and Bibliometric perspectives

Abstract

Clonostachys rosea, a filamentous ascomycete, has emerged as a promising biocontrol agent against plant-parasitic nematodes, representing a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical nematicides. This fungus employs multiple antagonistic mechanisms, including direct parasitism of nematode eggs and juveniles, secretion of hydrolytic enzymes such as subtilisin-like proteases and chitinases, and the biosynthesis of diverse nematicidal secondary metabolites, including nonribosomal peptides, epipolythiodioxopiperazines, terpenoids and fatty acid derivatives. Recent advances in genomic and transcriptomic analyses have identified key biosynthetic gene clusters and regulatory networks underlying these biocontrol traits, while in silico molecular docking studies have elucidated the interactions between fungal metabolites and nematode target proteins, providing mechanistic insights into their nematicidal activity. Empirical evidence from in vitro, greenhouse and field experiments demonstrates the efficacy of C. rosea in suppressing nematode populations, promoting plant growth and enhancing stress resilience. Despite these advances, commercial deployment remains constrained by challenges related to large-scale spore production, formulation stability, and strain-dependent performance across agroecological settings. To better contextualize these scientific developments and identify global research trends, a bibliometric analysis was conducted. This analysis revealed a steady increase in publications focusing on C. rosea, mapping the evolution of research themes, influential contributors, and emerging areas of application. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the molecular mechanisms and ecological functions underlying nematode antagonism by C. rosea, evaluates its practical potential in sustainable agriculture, and highlights future research priorities aimed at strain improvement, formulation optimization and field-scale implementation.