Enhanced Soybean Growth and Damping-off Disease Suppression via Trichoderma asperellum and Liquid Tofu Waste Co-application

Abstract

This study aims to examine the inhibitory properties of Trichoderma asperellum Tc-Jjr-02 against Rhizoctonia sp. Rz-Sd05, and the associated effects of its combined application with liquid tofu waste on damping-off disease in soybeans, as well as on the vegetative growth parameters of the plant. An in vitro dual-culture technique was employed for the inhibition test, while in vivo plant growth parameters were examined using a factorial Randomized Block Design. Observational variables included the disease symptom index, plant height, leaf number, and dry weights of shoot and root. The application of T. asperellum and tofu waste was found to inhibit Rhizoctonia sp. Rz-Sd05 by 58.52 ± 4.12%, reducing damping-off symptoms by up to 69.8%. Furthermore, the co-application significantly improved the soybean’s vegetative growth, leading to increases of 27.3-35.8% in plant height, 16.1-25.2% in leaf numbers, and up to 31.3% and 47.5% in root and shoot weights respectively, compared to control conditions. These findings suggest that the combined application of T. asperellum and liquid tofu waste can effectively mitigate damping-off disease and enhance soybean growth, providing a sustainable approach to improving crop health and yield.