The Role of Trichoderma Species in Plants Response to Salt Stress

Abstract

Soil salinity is a pending threat to global agricultural sustainability and food security. The natural means of alleviating this stress have become the major concern as to which methods, mechanisms, and organisms to be used. Soil-borne fungi Trichoderma has proven to alleviate salinity stress in plants. This review aimed to shed light on the roles and mechanisms of some species of Trichoderma in response to salt stress and other merits to plant growth and development. Detailed of this research reviewed the level of growth promotion induced by Trichoderma species with an estimated increase of 200% of total plant biomass compared with control plants from literature. The defined mechanisms of Trichoderma in combating salinity stress in plants are; formation of ion channels in host plants, activation of ion exchange (K+/N+), increase Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) scavenging enzymes, antioxidants, and genes, production of phytohormones and their signal pathways, stimulates root formation and developments, regulate stomata conductance through the increment of carotenoids in host plants which corresponds to the functions of the photosystems.