Abstract
Microbial-based biostimulants that increase plant performance and ensure sustainable restoration of degraded soils are of great importance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the growth promotion ability of indigenous Trichoderma ghanense, T. tomentosum and their complex on early rye seedlings in sustained grassland and arable soil. The impact of soil chemical properties on the ability of selected Trichoderma strains and their complex to promote plant growth was determined by the evaluation of the rye (Secale cereale L.) early seedling growth—measuring the length of shoots and roots as well as their dry weight. Trichoderma species were tested for their ability to produce extracellular degradative enzymes on solid media. Furthermore, the soil properties and CM-cellulase activity of soil were estimated. The indigenous Trichoderma strains possess the capacity to produce enzymes such as peroxidase, laccase, tyrosinase, and endoglucanase. The results indicated a significant (p < 0.05) increase in plant growth and the improvement of some soil chemical properties (total N, mobile humic and fulvic acids, exchangeable K2O, soil CM-cellulase activity) in inoculated soils when compared to the control. The growth of the roots of rye seedlings in sustained grassland was enhanced when T. tomentosum was applied (p = 0.005). There was an increase in total weight and shoot weight of rye seedlings when T. ghanense was used in the arable soil (p = 0.014 and p = 0.024). The expected beneficial effect of Trichoderma spp. complex on rye growth promotion was not observed in any tested soil. The results could find application in the development of new and efficient biostimulants, since not only do physiological characteristics of fungi play an important role but also the quality of the soil has an impact.
Highlights
Intensive farming, the abundant use of fertilizers—especially nitrogenous—and pesticides, and the prevalence of monocultures and intensive tilling have an unavoidable negative influence on soil microbiota and crop yield worldwide [1]
Repeatedly branched conidiophores bearing flask-shaped phialides. According to these mreoprepahteodlolygibcrcahnacrhaecdterciosntiicdsi,otphheoisroeslabteesawrinegrefalassskig-nsheadpteodTprihchiaoldiderems.a Agecncoursd(iFniggutoret1h)e. se morphologic characteristics, the isolates were assigned to Trichoderma genus (Figure 1)
The indigenous Trichoderma species with different physiological characteristics were tested as biostimulants on the early rye seedlings grown in the sustained grassland and arable soil
Summary
The abundant use of fertilizers—especially nitrogenous—and pesticides, and the prevalence of monocultures and intensive tilling have an unavoidable negative influence on soil microbiota and crop yield worldwide [1]. Microorganisms are responsible for the decomposition of organic matter in the soil and involved in the formation of humus, the improvement of soil quality and the supply of nutrients to plants. More sustainable agriculture requires yield increases and improved product quality, while reducing the negative impact of agrochemicals on the environment, all of which might be fostered by microbial-based biostimulants [3]. Microbial-based biostimulants have been important since the beginning of agriculture (i.e., Rhizobium in legumes). These biostimulants or biofertilizers increase plant performance and ensure the sustainable restoration of degraded soils [3,4,5,6]. Some of them show plant growth promotion and biocontrol abilities [5,7,8]
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