| Summary: | Some <i>Trichoderma</i> spp. exhibit natural abilities to reduce fungal diseases of plants through their mycoparasitic and antagonistic properties. In this study, we created new <i>Trichoderma atroviride</i> strains with elevated antifungal activity. This effect was achieved by improving the activity of <i>cis</i>-prenyltransferase, the main enzyme in dolichol synthesis, by expressing the <i>RER2</i> gene from <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>. Since dolichyl phosphate is the carrier of carbohydrate residues during protein glycosylation, activation of its synthesis enhanced the activities of dolichyl-dependent enzymes, DPM synthase and <i>N</i>-acetylglucosamine transferase, as well as stimulated glycosylation of secretory proteins. Cellulases secreted by the transformants revealed significantly higher levels or activities compared to the control strain. Consequently, the resulting <i>Trichoderma</i> strains were more effective against the plant pathogens <i>Pythium ultimum</i>.
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