Enhancing the Potentiality of Trichoderma harzianum against Pythium Pathogen of Beans Using Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla, L.) Flower Extract.

Ashraf Elsayed,Samy F Mahmoud,Kamar M Abd El-Hai,Noha M Eldadamony,Ayman Y El-Khateeb,Abeer Abdulkhalek Ghoniem

doi:10.3390/molecules26041178

Ashraf Elsayed, Samy F Mahmoud + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26041178

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Abstract

Our present study was designed to investigate the role of both Trichoderma harzianum and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) flower extract in mutual reaction against growth of Pythium ultimum. In vitro, the activity of chamomile extract was found to reduce the radial growth of Pythium ultimum up to 30% compared to the control. Whereas, the radial growth reduction effect of T. harzianum against P. ultimum reached 81.6% after 120 h. Data also showed the productivity of total phenolics and total flavonoids by T. harzianum, was 12.18 and 6.33 mg QE/100 mL culture filtrate, respectively. However, these compounds were determined in chamomile flower extract at concentrations of 75.33 and 24.29 mg QE/100 mL, respectively. The fractionation of aqueous extract of chamomile flower using HPLC provided several polyphenolic compounds such as pyrogallol, myricetin, rosemarinic acid, catechol, p-coumaric acid, benzoic acid, chlorogenic acid and other minor compounds. In vivo, the potentiality of T. harzianum with chamomile flower extract against Pythium pathogen of bean was investigated. Data obtained showed a reduction in the percentage of rotted seed and infected seedling up to 28 and 8%, respectively. Whereas, the survival increased up to 64% compared to other ones. There was also a significant promotion in growth features, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total polyphenols and flavonoids, polyphenol-oxidase and peroxidase enzymes compared to other ones. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reported studies that included the mutual association of fungus, T. harzianum with the extract taken from the chamomile flower against P. ultimum, either in vitro or in vivo. In conclusion, the application of both T. harzianum and/or M. chamomilla extracts in the control of bean Pythium pathogen showed significant results.

Highlights

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Leguminous crops, such as Phaseolus vulgaris, L. are widely cultivated for human consumption, due to their richness in protein, fibers, calories, vitamin B and other minerals, e.g., iron, calcium, phosphorous and zinc [1,2]
Fungicide threshold chemical agents are often used to effectively protect plants from soil borne diseases, their use is restricted due to their immensely harmful effect on the environment leading to the emergence of mutant fungal variations of pathogenic species as well as biomagnification that extends to human food products affecting their health [36,37]
Flower extract was investigated against the bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) pathogen P. ultimum, in vitro and in vivo

Summary

Introduction

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Leguminous crops, such as Phaseolus vulgaris, L. are widely cultivated for human consumption, due to their richness in protein, fibers, calories, vitamin B and other minerals, e.g., iron, calcium, phosphorous and zinc [1,2]. Common French beans are a variant of those legume crops that contain several constituents, i.e., flavonoids, saponins, tannins and phenolic acid, with significant biological activity, e.g., anti-urolithiatic and anti-obesity [3]. These bean plants often get infected by pathogenic species of Pythium spp., which. The most aggressive species of Pythium, P. aphanidermatum, affects bean plants causing root rot and crown necrosis of mature bean plants, which has a significant economic impact [5,6]. Another species is P. splendens, which is known for its pathogenicity towards seedlings of different species, causing damping-off of seedlings [7]

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