The disease resistance potential of Trichoderma asperellum T-Pa2 isolated from Phellodendron amurense rhizosphere soil

Abstract

To promote the application of Trichoderma, many countries have collected Trichoderma resources. In the present study, nine isolates were isolated from a rhizosphere soil of Phellodendron amurense and were identified as three species: Trichoderma brevicompactum (one isolate), T. asperellum (two isolates), T. atroviride (six isolates). Dual culture experiments showed that T. asperellum T-Pa2 grew fast and produced the best inhibition rates against six tested pathogens (80.25–91.65%) via competition and mycoparasitism. Populus davidiana × P. alba var. pyramidalis Louche (PdPap poplar) was treated with T-Pa2, which increased the catalase activity, nitrate reductase activity, and content of osmosis molecules significantly (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, induction by T-Pa2 increased the resistance of PdPap poplar against Alternaria alternata via modulating the expression of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and auxin transduction pathway genes. The results will form the basis for the collection and application of biocontrol agents in forestry.