Application Of Trichoderma Research Articles

Multifaceted and dual-edged native Trichoderma strains from subabul rhizospheric soil to combat Fusarium wilt disease – a sustainable approach

ABSTRACT Fusarium wilt and gummosis disease is a major concern in Subabul plantations, resulting in quantitative and qualitative wood losses to the paper and pulp industry. Growers currently rely on agrochemicals, which are not environmentally safe. Therefore, developing a sustainable control strategy employing biocontrol agents is necessary. For this, the investigation was performed to identify native Trichoderma strains from Subabul rhizospheric soil having antagonistic, disease control efficiency, and PGPR attributes. Six antagonistic Trichoderma (TR1 to TR6) strains were isolated and their efficacy was tested against Fusarium in-vitro by dual plate technique and volatile metabolites. Among these, Trichoderma strains TR1 and TR2 were found efficient in counteracting the growth of F. equiseti (70–90% inhibition) compared to control. The effectiveness was primarily attributed to the increased production of volatile metabolites, siderophores, and the ability to solubilise the nutrients (P and K). Further, six potent Trichoderma strains were identified as T. asperellum (TR1, TR2, TR3, TR6), and T. hamatum (TR4, TR5) through rDNA ITS gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. These isolates were mass-multiplied, formulated using Talc powder followed by bio-priming in rooting media. The application of Trichoderma into rooting media reduced the wilt disease caused by artificial inoculation of F. equiseti. Further, TR1 and TR2 were found promising with conferred protection against wilt, enhanced survival rate (10–15%), and improved growth compared to untreated control. Application of adapted TR1 and TR2 antagonists in rooting media during clonal multiplication has the potential wilt control efficiency, enhanced survival rate, and plant growth promotion in Subabul.

Harnessing Plant Growth–Promoting and Wilt‐Controlling Biopotential of a Consortium of Actinomycetes and Mycorrhizae in Pigeon Pea

ABSTRACTFusarium‐induced wilt significantly affects the cultivation and yield of pigeon peas. This warrants sustainable disease management while promoting plant growth. The present study investigated the biopotential of coinoculation of Streptomyces pseudogriseolus S‐9 and Rhizophagus irregularis for plant growth promotion and mitigation of the impact of Fusarium wilt on pigeon pea over three seasons at pot and field levels. Pigeon pea plants were subjected to Fusarium wilt stress and treated with different inoculation strategies, including single and combined applications of S. pseudogriseolus S‐9 and R. irregularis. Plant growth parameters and yields were assessed to evaluate the efficacy of the coinoculation. In the pot experiment, T‐6 treatment resulted in the longest root (62.56 ± 0.01 cm) and shoot (70.24 ± 0.01 cm) lengths compared to the application of commercial biofungicide T‐8 (Trichoderma). This treatment also significantly influenced the yield of potted plants. It resulted in the highest fresh root weight (62.27 ± 0.01 g), fresh shoot weight (70.24 ± 0.02 g), maximum root (55.25 ± 0.01 g) and shoot dry weights (52.25 ± 0.01 g). In the field experiment, pigeon pea plants treated with the bioinoculant also demonstrated a substantial increase (р ≤ 0.05) in total grain yield, the weight of 100 grains, and the number of filled grains compared to the control group in all experimental seasons. In vitro, antagonism assay of compatibility of mycorrhizae and bacteria showed good activity using powder formulation. Thus, the consortium application inspired the broad application of Streptomyces and Trichoderma as effective bioinoculants for wilt management and yield improvement in pigeon peas.

The effects of EDTA and Trichoderma species on growth and Cu uptake of maize (Zea mays) plants grown in a Cu-contaminated soil.

Metal contamination in soil poses a significant environmental concern worldwide, necessitating effective remediation strategies such as phytoremediation. The present study investigated the effects of EDTA dosage (1.5 and 3mmolkg-1) and two Trichoderma species (T. harzianum and T. aureoviride) on copper (Cu) content and growth of maize plants grown in a Cu-contaminated soil, as well as Cu fractionation in the soil. In the absence of EDTA, only inoculation with T. harzianum led to a significant increase in shoot biomass. Combining fungal inoculum with EDTA only yielded a significant increase in shoot biomass when using T. aureoviride at a low EDTA rate, highlighting the interplay between fungal species and EDTA rates on plant growth. Results also indicated that EDTA application increased Cu bioavailability, enhancing Cu dissolution and root (not shoot) Cu concentrations. Conversely, inoculation with both Trichoderma species reduced Cu mobility and bioavailability in soil, thereby decreasing the shoot Cu concentrations of plants. When combined with EDTA, only application of T. harzianum resulted in an enhanced shoot Cu concentration, whereas combined application of T. aureoviride and EDTA did not make a significant change compared to the corresponding control (no fungal inoculation, no EDTA), possibly due to a lower compatibility of the T. aureoviride isolate with EDTA. Our results demonstrated that EDTA application, in both non-inoculated and inoculated treatments, increased Cu availability by facilitating its redistribution and transformation from less plant-available fractions (residual, Fe/Mn oxide-bound, and carbonate-bound) to the more readily plant-available forms (water-soluble and exchangeable fractions). In conclusion, although individual Trichoderma application proved beneficial for phytostabilization by reducing Cu content and mitigating Cu toxicity in plants, the combined application of EDTA and a compatible Trichoderma isolate (here, the T. harzianum isolate) holds promise for enhancing the phytoextraction capacity of plants. Although using maize has the advantage of being a food crop, to optimize phytoextraction, plant species with superior metal tolerance and phytoextraction capabilities should be selected, exceeding those of maize.

Effect of Light Conditions, Trichoderma Fungi and Food Polymers on Growth and Profile of Biologically Active Compounds in Thymus vulgaris and Thymus serpyllum.

The research investigates the influence of different lighting conditions and soil treatments, in particular the application of food polymers separately and in combination with spores of Trichoderma consortium, on the growth and development of herbs-Thymus vulgaris and Thymus serpyllum. The metabolic analysis focuses on detecting changes in the levels of biologically active compounds such as chlorophyll a and b, anthocyanins, carotenoids, phenolic compounds (including flavonoids), terpenoids, and volatile organic compounds with potential health-promoting properties. By investigating these factors, the study aims to provide insights into how environmental conditions affect the growth and chemical composition of selected plants and to shed light on potential strategies for optimising the cultivation of these herbs for the improved quality and production of bioactive compounds. Under the influence of additional lighting, the growth of T. vulgaris and T. serpyllum seedlings was greatly accelerated, resulting in an increase in shoot biomass and length, and in the case of T. vulgaris, an increase in carotenoid and anthocyanin contents. Regarding secondary metabolites, the most pronounced changes were observed in total antioxidant capacity and flavonoid content, which increased significantly under the influence of additional lighting. The simultaneous or separate application of Trichoderma and food polymers resulted in an increase in flavonoid content in the leaves of both Thymus species. The increase in terpenoid content under supplemental light appears to be related to the presence of Trichoderma spores as well as food polymers added to the soil. However, the nature of these changes depends on the thyme species. Volatile compounds were analysed using an electronic nose (E-nose). Eight volatile compounds (VOCs) were tentatively identified in the vapours of T. vulgaris and T. serpyllum: α-pinene, myrcene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene; 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol. Tendencies to increase the percentage of thymol and γ-terpinene under supplemental lighting were observed. The results also demonstrate a positive effect of food polymers and, to a lesser extent, Trichoderma fungi on the synthesis of VOCs with health-promoting properties. The effect of Trichoderma and food polymers on individual VOCs was positive in some cases for thymol and γ-terpinene.

Erratum to: Contouring Multifaceted Biological Activities and Applications of Trichoderma spp. for Managing Plant Health

Erratum to: Contouring Multifaceted Biological Activities and Applications of Trichoderma spp. for Managing Plant Health

Mycorrhizosphere bacteria inhibit greenhouse gas emissions from microplastics contaminated soil by regulating soil enzyme activities and microbial community structure

Microplastics (MPs) accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems can affect greenhouse gases (GHGs) production by altering microbial and soil structure. Presently, research on the MPs effect on plants is not consistent, and underlying molecular mechanisms associated with GHGs are yet unknown. For the first time, we conducted a microcosm study to explore the impact of MPs addition (Raw vs. aged) and Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Bacillus subtilis inoculation (Sole vs. combination) on GHGs emission, soil community structure, physiochemical properties, and enzyme activities. Our results indicated that the addition of aged MPs considerably enhanced the GHGs emissions (N2O (+16%) and CO2 (+21%), respectively), C and N cycling gene expression, microbial biomass carbon, and soil physiochemical properties than raw MPs. However, the soil microbial community structure and enzyme activities were enhanced in raw MPs added treatments, irrespective of the MPs type added to soil. However, microbial inoculation significantly reduced GHGs emission by altering the expression of C and N cycling genes in both types of MPs added treatments. The soil microbial community structure, enzymes activities, physiochemical properties and microbial biomass carbon were enhanced in the presence of microbial inoculation in both type of MPs. Among sole and combined inoculation of Trichoderma and Bacillus subtilis, the co-applied Trichoderma and Bacillus subtilis considerably reduced the GHGs emission (N2O (−64%) and CO2 (−61%), respectively) by altering the expression of C and N cycling genes regardless of MPs type used. The combined inoculation also enhanced soil enzyme activities, microbial community structure, physiochemical properties and microbial biomass carbon in both types of MPs treatment. Our findings provide evidence that polyethylene MPs likely pose a high risk of GHGs emission while combined application of Trichoderma and Bacillus subtilis significantly reduced GHGs emission by altering C and N cycling gene expression, soil microbial community structure, and enzyme activities under MPs pollution in a terrestrial ecosystem.

Contouring Multifaceted Biological Activities and Applications of Trichoderma spp. for Managing Plant Health

Contouring Multifaceted Biological Activities and Applications of Trichoderma spp. for Managing Plant Health

Trichoderma application methods differentially affect the tomato growth, rhizomicrobiome, and rhizosphere soil suppressiveness against Fusarium oxysporum.

Trichoderma spp. are widely used to enhance crop growth and suppress diverse diseases. However, inconsistent field efficacy remains a major barrier to their use as a reliable alternative to synthetic pesticides. Various strategies have been investigated to enhance the robustness of their application. Here, we evaluated how T. virens application methods (pre-, at-, and post-transplant) affect the growth of two tomato varieties and their rhizosphere fungal and bacterial communities. Although the greatest rhizosphere abundance of T. virens was observed in the post-transplant application, the at-transplant application promoted tomato growth the most, indicating that greater rhizosphere abundance does not necessarily result in better tomato growth. None of the application methods significantly altered the global rhizosphere fungal and bacterial communities of the tested varieties. Changes in specific microbial genera and guilds may underpin the enhanced tomato growth. We also investigated whether the resulting microbiome changes affect the mycelial growth and conidial germination of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, soilborne fungal pathogens of tomato, upon exposure to volatile compounds emitted by culturable rhizosphere microbes and metabolites extracted from the rhizosphere soils after Trichoderma treatments. Volatile compounds produced by cultured rhizosphere microbes after the at-transplant application suppressed the mycelial growth of both pathogens better than those after the other treatments. Similarly, water-soluble metabolites extracted from the rhizosphere soil samples after the at-transplant application most effectively suppressed the germination rate of F. oxysporum spores. Overall, our results suggest that the at-transplant application is most advantageous for promoting the growth of the tested tomato varieties and building soil suppressiveness against the tested fusaria. However, further studies are needed before applying this method to support tomato production. We discuss critical future questions.

Effects of Bio-inoculation on the Growth of Cabbage as Well as the Disease Progression of Alternaria Leaf Spot

Cabbage is one of the common Cole crop which is widely grown throughout India. It is affected various disease including, Alternaria leaf spot, black rot, club root, downy mildew and powdery mildew. Alternaria leaf spot, caused by Alternaria species such as A. brassicae and A. brassicicola, has been documented on every continent and is a prevalent disease affecting cabbage. Among the various diseases impacting cabbage, it stands out as a major contributor to yield loss, averaging between 32-57%. An experiment Effects of bio-inoculation on the growth of cabbage seedlings, as well as the disease progression of Alternaria leaf spot under challenge inoculation was conducted at Department of Plant Pathology, Rama University, Kanpur during 2023. Result of the study revealed that. application of Trichoderma as a seed treatment led to higher root and shoot dry biomass (0.080 and 0.021 mg/ seedling respectively), higher % increase in root and shoot dry weight (61.25and 82.78%) was found in T1 (Seed treatment with trichoderma harzianum) whereas highest root: shoot ratio (0.222) was reported in treatment T2.

Exploring the antagonist potential of indigenous Trichoderma spp., Bacillus, and Pseudomonas against Phytophthora palmivora of Soe mandarin in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Phytophthora palmivora-induced root and basal stem rot pose a significant threat to the survival of Soe mandarin plants in East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. We isolated four Trichoderma species, five Bacillus, and 13 Pseudomonas isolates from the rhizosphere of healthy Soe mandarin. This study pursued two main objectives: (a) assessing the inhibitory capabilities of indigenous Trichoderma spp., Bacillus, and Pseudomonas towards P. palmivora in vitro, and (b) investigating the combined efficacy of Trichoderma spp., Bacillus, and Pseudomonas in controlling P. palmivora in a pot trial. Results revealed that four Trichoderma species (T. asperellum, T. hamatum, T. harzianum, and T. viride) significantly inhibited the growth of P. palmivora. Notably, T. asperellum exhibited the highest inhibition, at 84.31%, followed closely by T. harzianum (84.11%), T. viride (83.67%), and T. hamatum (80.28%). Bacillus and Pseudomonas exhibited varying levels of inhibition to P. palmivora growth in vitro, with the most substantial inhibition observed in Bacillus 1, followed by Pseudomonas 6. In the subsequent pot trial, the application of Trichoderma, Bacillus, or Pseudomonas, either individually or in combination, significantly increased the height increment and reduced the disease incidence caused by P. palmivora in Soe mandarin seedlings.

Trichoderma spp. promotes ginseng biomass by influencing the soil microbial community.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) has multiple effects on human health; however, soil degradation seriously affects its yield. Trichoderma spp. play an important role in improving plant biomass by influencing the soil environment. Therefore, it is necessary to screen efficient Trichoderma strains that can increase ginseng biomass and determine their mechanisms. Herein, we selected six Trichoderma species (T. brevicompactum, T. velutinum, T. viridescens, T. atroviride, T. koningiopsis, and T. saturnisporum) isolated from ginseng rhizosphere soil, and evaluated their growth promoting effects on ginseng and their influence on the microbiome and chemical attributes of the ginseng rhizosphere soil. Except for T. saturnisporum (F), compared with the control, the other five species increased ginseng biomass. In terms of chemical properties, the pH value, available potassium content, and available phosphorus content in the ginseng rhizosphere soil increased by 1.16-5.85%, 0.16-14.03%, and 3.92-38.64%, respectively, after root irrigation with spores of Trichoderma species. For the soil microbiome, fungal Chao1 and Ace richness indices decreased. Application of Trichoderma enhanced the relative level of Proteobacteria, but reduced the relative level of Ascomycota. At the genus level, application of Trichoderma enhanced the relative levels of Sphingomonas, Blastomonas, and Trichoderma, but reduced the relative level of Fusarium. Available K and available P were the most important elements that affected the structure of the bacterial community, while total K was the most influential element for the structure of the fungal community structure. The results indicated that the application of Trichoderma spp. could increase soil nutrients and regulate the structure and composition of the soil microbial community, thereby enhancing the biomass of ginseng. The results will provide guidance for soil improvement in ginseng cultivation.

Onion Fusarium Basal Rot Disease Control by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Trichoderma harzianum

Soilborne pathogens reduce 60% of the yield of onion crops. A common fungal pathogen causing wilt disease and severe losses is Fusarium basal rot (FBR). In this study, the combination of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) with Trichoderma harzianum was investigated against FBR. Onion samples were collected from the Ankara–Polatlı region. Among the isolates, isolate S6 was identified as F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae (FOC) using morphological and molecular methods and pathogenicity tests. Different combinations of AMF (Funneliformis mosseae pure strain and the commercial AMF) and T. harzianum were inoculated on susceptible onion cultivars (Seç, Gence, and Şampiyon). The effects of the treatments on FOC biocontrol were studied under growth chamber conditions. The results showed that Şampiyon was the most resistant, while Gence was the most susceptible to basal rot disease. Different colonization rates (8.91–24%), spore densities (16.4–50.4 spore/10 g soil), and the extent to which a plant needs mycorrhizal conditions to grow to its maximum potential (i.e., mycorrhizal dependencies—18.3–51.9%) were recorded by treatment. Both single and combined applications of AMF and Trichoderma applications suppressed FOC. Suppressive effects were more pronounced when the F. mosseae pure strain was used alone (when F. mosseae was used, disease severity decreased from 90 to 68%, p < 0.05). The F. mosseae pure strain also showed the best plant growth promotion and phosphorus content release. The results indicate an interesting potential use of F. mosseae and the combination of AMF with T. harzianum in the management of FOC in onions.

Population dynamics of Trichoderma harzianum in bio- fortified compost against soil-borne potato diseases

Soil-borne diseases pose significant challenges to global potato cultivation, resulting in yield losses and economic implications. Utilizing biological control agents offers a sustainable and environmentally and friendly approach to manage these diseases. Before implementing the experiment in the field, a series of in-vitro tests were conducted to select a virulent isolate of the tested pathogens and an effective antagonistic isolate of Trichoderma harzianum. In the pathogenicity test, isolate RS-1 of Rhizoctonia solani and isolate SR-8 of Sclerotium rolfsii exhibited the highest virulence against two pathogens in potato variety ‘Cardinal’ in regard to seedling mortality (44.44-88.88%). During in vitro screening, T. harzianum isolate Tri 7 displayed the greatest ability to inhibit the mycelium growth of all tested pathogens. In the field trial, the highest seedling mortality (69.06%) was observed in T2 (Fresh seeds+ Soil inoculated with R. solani and S. rolfsii). However, the highest seedling mortality (86.94%) was reduced by treatment T7 (Fresh seeds+ Soil inoculated with R. solani and S. rolfsii +500g wheat grain colonized with Trichoderma fortified poultry compost). Treatment T7 also recorded the lowest incidences of stem canker (7.83%) and stem rot (8.64%), whereas the highest disease incidences occurred in the T2 treatment plot. Notably, treatment T7 gave the highest yield of 30.94 tons/ha, while the control plot T2 yielded the lowest at 12.17 tons/ha. Initially, Trichoderma population was minimal prior to the application of Trichoderma- fortified compost. However, populations gradually increased over time, peaking at 3 months across all treatments except the control, where no Trichoderma was applied. However, a decline in T. harzianum population was noted one month after potato harvesting. This approach offers a potential solution for managing potato soil-borne diseases in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2023) 27 (1): 81-92

Comprehensive analysis of Trichoderma ressei mediated CO2 stress attenuating responses and de novo transcriptome sequencing of rice flag leaf

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the alterations in physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional reactions in the flag leaf of rice following the application of Trichoderma as a biofertilizer (BF) at both ambient (aCO2; 395 ppm) and enhanced (eCO2; 550 ppm) carbon dioxide levels. A comparatively smaller percentage change was observed in the photosynthetic parameters, including photosynthetic rate, respiration, and stomatal conductance, subsequent to the introduction of BF in the elevated carbon dioxide (eCO2) environment. Furthermore, biochemical analysis revealed a noteworthy elevation in photosynthetic pigments, total sugar, proline, and ascorbate peroxidase concentration levels in plants treated with BF under ambient and increased carbon dioxide conditions. The buildup of indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) was shown to be increased in rice treated with BF under both conditions. Moreover, ICP‐MS analysis demonstrated an augmentation in the levels of vital micronutrients in the experimental group while observing no alterations in the carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio within the flag leaf. The examination of transcriptional responses in the flag leaf demonstrated an increase in the expression of genes associated with the photosynthetic system, amino acid metabolism, several transporters, including aquaporin, and the phosphate pathway, as well as carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Hence, our work elucidates the effective role of Trichoderma in mitigating the adverse consequences associated with elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2).

Application of trichoderma and aspergillus as biofertilizers in eco-friendly ratoon rice cultivation

The study’s goal is to find the best native fungus from rice husk waste so that a solid biofertilizer can be made with high-husk flour as a carrier material and an inert agent. This study was conducted on agricultural land in Seloliman Village, Trawas District, and Mojokerto Regency. Biofertilization and biological agent formulation activities carried out at Muhammadiyah University of Sidoarjo’s Microbiology Laboratory aided the research. The experiment was conducted using a factorial randomized block design. The first factor consisted of three treatments: no fungi, Trichoderma sp., and Aspergillus sp. The second factor consists of soil treatment and apical treatment. The six treatment combinations were repeated four times (24 samples). The variables measured comprised plant height, number of panicles, weight of grain per plant, weight of 100 grams of grain, and the efficacy of biological agents in improving plant growth and productivity. All data underwent analysis of variety and then an HSD test at the 5% significance level to identify disparities among treatments. The study reveals that isolates Tc-013 and As-022 were identified as Trichoderma esperellum and Aspergillus flavus or A. oryzae, respectively. The application of Trichoderma and Aspergillus caused a decrease in the intensity of disease symptoms, reaching 64.7% and 37.3%, an increase in plant height and number of panicles, and an increase in the weight of 100 grains of 59.89 and 49.35%, respectively, as compared to the control treatment where the fungus was not applied.

Application Potential of Trichoderma in the Degradation of Phenolic Acid-Modified Chitosan.

The aim of the study was to determine the potential use of fungi of the genus Trichoderma for the degradation of phenolic acid-modified chitosan in compost. At the same time, the enzymatic activity in the compost was checked after the application of a preparation containing a suspension of the fungi Trichoderma (spores concentration 105/mL). The Trichoderma strains were characterized by high lipase and aminopeptidase activity, chitinase, and β-1,3-glucanases. T. atroviride TN1 and T. citrinoviride TN3 metabolized the modified chitosan films best. Biodegradation of modified chitosan films by native microorganisms in the compost was significantly less effective than after the application of a formulation composed of Trichoderma TN1 and TN3. Bioaugmentation with a Trichoderma preparation had a significant effect on the activity of all enzymes in the compost. The highest oxygen consumption in the presence of chitosan with tannic acid film was found after the application of the consortium of these strains (861 mg O2/kg after 21 days of incubation). Similarly, chitosan with gallic acid and chitosan with ferulic acid were found after the application of the consortium of these strains (849 mgO2/kg and 725 mg O2/kg after 21 days of incubation). The use of the Trichoderma consortium significantly increased the chitinase activity. The application of Trichoderma also offers many possibilities in sustainable agriculture. Trichoderma can not only degrade chitosan films, but also protect plants against fungal pathogens by synthesizing chitinases and β-1,3 glucanases with antifungal properties.

Combined application of effective Trichoderma, Pseudomonas and arbuscular mycorrhiza spp. reduced soil-borne diseases and boosted growth in cotton

BackgroundThe most common soil-borne diseases in cotton are root rot and wilt, which are caused by Rhizoctonia solani (Taub) Butler and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, respectively. These two diseases significantly reduce plant stand and production. Under extreme circumstances, the application of fungicides does not provide satisfactory management of these diseases and also pollutes the environment. The effect of biocontrol agents, their combinations and fungicides on root rot and wilt management and plant growth in Gossypium hirsutum and G. arboreum cultivars CSH-3129 and CICR-3 were studied during 2017–18 and 2018–19.ResultsOut of six isolates of Trichoderma spp., T. asperellum (Th-11) was the most effective for inhibiting the mycelial growth of R. solani and F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (64.4–100%). The combined seed treatment of T. asperellum (Th-11, c.f.u. 2 × 108/g) + Pseudomonas fluorescens (c.f.u. 2 × 108/g) + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; 1200 IP/g) resulted in the highest plant vigour index in CSH-3129 (890.9%) and CICR-3 cultivars (393.5%) at 15 days after treatment. Ninety days after sowing, the combined seed treatments of T. asperellum (Th-11) + P. fluorescens + AMF followed by T. asperellum (Th-11) + P. fluorescens showed the lowest area under the disease progress curve in CICR-3 and CSH 3129. Two-year pooled results indicated that the combined seed treatment with T. asperellum (Th-11) + P. fluorescens + AMF reduced the root rot disease by 51 and 57.5% in CICR-3 and CSH-3129 cultivars, respectively, under field conditions.ConclusionThe present investigation suggested that combined application of the most effective strains of T. asperellum (Th-11) @10 g/kg + P. fluorescens @10 g/kg and AMF @20 g/kg can effectively manage root rot and wilt diseases up to 60 days after sowing and enhance plant growth under field conditions. However, the application rates of these biocontrol agents vis-à-vis load of pathogen inoculum in the field must be further evaluated for improved and long-term effects.

Advances in research and application of Trichoderma for inducing resistance against root rot diseases in root and rhizome of Chinese medicinal materials

Root rot is a microbial disease that is difficult to control and can result in serious losses in the planting of most Chinese medicinal materials. As high as 87.6% of roots or rhizomes of Chinese medicinal materials are susceptible to root rot, which seriously affects the cultivation development of Chinese medicinal materials. Trichoderma fungi, possessing biological control functions, can induce plants to improve their resistance to microbial diseases, promote plant growth, and effectively reduce the losses caused by various microbial diseases on cultivation. At present, Trichoderma is rarely used in the cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials, so it has great application potential for the prevention and control of root rot diseases in farmed Chinese medicinal materials. Based on the above situation, after comparison and discussion, it is believed that compared with chemical control and physical control, biological control of root rot diseases of Chinese medicinal materials is more efficient and meets the development needs of Chinese medicinal materials ecological planting in China. This paper reviewed the progress in the research and application of Trichoderma in the control of root rot diseases in the root and rhizome of farmed Chinese medicinal materials in the past 10 years and found that most of the current research on the biological control of root rot diseases in Chinese medicinal materials was mostly limited to the verification of the inhibitory effect of Trichoderma strains on the growth of the pathogenic microbes. Studies on the induction effect of Trichoderma on Chinese medicinal materials are not in depth. Studies on the responding mechanisms of most Chinese medicinal materials to Trichoderma are highly absent. Moreover, there are few reports on field experiments, which indicates that there is a long way to go before Trichoderma is widely applied in the farming practice of Chinese medicinal materials. To sum up, this paper aimed to link the present and the future and advocated further relevant research and more experiments on the application of Trichoderma in the farming of Chinese medicinal materials.

Effects of Reduced Phosphate Fertilizer and Increased Trichoderma Application on the Growth, Yield, and Quality of Pepper.

Phosphorus utilization by crop plants is often limited, thereby resulting in large accumulations of residual phosphorus fertilizer in the soil. Trichoderma fungi function as natural decomposition agents that can contribute to increasing decomposition and promoting nutrient absorption in plants. In this study, we developed a novel fertilizer application strategy that reduces phosphate fertilizer and increases Trichoderma and examined its effects on the growth, nutrient absorption, and fruit quality of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). We compared the efficacies of eight treatments: P100 = standard dose application of phosphorus fertilizer; P85 = 85% dose; P70 = 70% dose; P0 = no phosphorus fertilizer; and the TP100, TP85, TP70, and TP0 treatments, in which a Trichoderma mixture was added to the P100, P85, P70, and P0 treatments, respectively. The combined fertilizer application strategy stimulated plant growth, increased chlorophyll content, improved yield, and enhanced nutrient absorption. Additionally, the strategy improved pepper fruit quality by increasing the contents of soluble proteins, soluble sugars, vitamin C, capsaicin, and capsanthin. A comprehensive analysis indicated that the TP85 treatment was the optimal fertilization regime for pepper. This study provides a novel fertilizer application strategy for pepper that not only ensures good plant growth but also protects soil health.

Effects of melatonin and Trichoderma harzianum on pak choi yield, chlorophyll contents and antioxidant defense system under clubroot disease

Clubroot disease causes significant damage to cruciferous crops worldwide, resulting in severe decrease in plant yield. Plants tolerate biotic stresses through various mechanisms, including pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that activate immunity and plant resistance proteins. However, humans often resort to non-ecofriendly methods such as chemical applications to control biotic stresses. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) and Trichoderma are environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative strategies to protect plants from pathogen attacks. Additionally, they have favorable effects on horticultural crop growth, fruit ripening, flowering, and provide stress resistance to abiotic and biotic diseases. In the present study, we aimed to control clubroot disease in Pak choi through single and combined exogenous application of melatonin and Trichoderma. We analyzed their effects on plant biomass, chlorophyll contents and observed alterations in their antioxidant system. Our results demonstrated that the combined application of 50 µM melatonin and 100 g Trichoderma efficiently control clubroot disease up to 74.85% compared to plants only supplemented with Plasmodiophora brassicae, as indicated by the disease index. Furthermore, we observed increased plant growth and antioxidant enzyme activities, including Ascorbic acid peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD); catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and peroxidase (POD). Additionally, malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels were reduced. Moreover, increased levels of chlorophyll, carotenoids and plant biomass have been observed in plants co-inoculated with melatonin and Trichoderma application. These findings provide valuable insights that can be utilized to enhance crop stress tolerance in challenging environments and increase plant yield. The use of environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternatives to chemical control can help mitigate the damage caused by clubroot disease to cruciferous crops.