Bioprospecting Drought Tolerant <i>Trichoderma harzianum</i> Isolates Promote Growth and Delay the Onset of Drought Responses in Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.)

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate whether seed biopriming through drought tolerant isolates of Trichoderma harzianum induces drought tolerance in wheat. Physiological and biochemical parameters were also monitored under greenhouse conditions to explore the mechanism underlying plant water stress resilience in response to Trichoderma inoculation.The impact of bioprospecting Trichoderma harzianum drought tolerant isolates, Rani and Rani Th-39 on wheat response to drought was studied. Measurements of the stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and greenness of plants were performed. In addition, analysis of the total phenolic compounds, free proline, MSI (membrane stability index) as well as lipid peroxidation was carried out. With or without exposure to drought conditions, colonization by Trichoderma isolates promoted seedling growth, the most consistent effect being an increase in shoot and root growth. The primary direct effect of colonization was promotion of root growth, regardless of water status, and an increase in water content, which it is proposed, caused a delay in many aspects of the drought response of wheat. Colonization of Trichoderma by seed biopriming enhanced drought tolerance of wheat plants as they delayed drought induced changes like stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and greenness of plants.Drought stress from 4 to 13 d of withholding water induced an increase in the concentration of many stress induced metabolites in wheat leaves, while Trichoderma colonization caused a decrease in proline, MDA and H 2 O 2 contents and an increase in phenolics concentration.Among different Trichoderma isolates, Rani Th-14 induced maximum drought tolerance as treated plants recorded only 20-40 per cent wilting even at 13 days drought stress (DDS). The study is important as the experiments confirmed that the drought tolerant isolates of Trichoderma through seed bio priming are critical in inducing tolerance to drought.

Effect of Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens on the Enhancement of Drought Tolerance and Plant Growth in Tomato

“…The results were in agreement with shukla et al colonized rice seedlings were slower to wilt in response to drought stress, where they reported that Th56 isolate of induced maximum drought tolerance even at 9 Days Drought Stress (DDS). Results were also similar with [12] they reported that seed biopriming of wheat with powdered formulation of drought tolerant Trichoderma harzianum enhanced tolerance against water stress condition and the 25 and Rani Th-30 performed better (< 60%) to stand the plants up to 13 Days ve water consumption of two bio-inoculants varied between 14.58 to . However the treated plants showed less water consumption than the untreated plants.…”

“…The results were in agreement with [11] where Trichoderma-colonized rice seedlings were slower to wilt in response to drought stress where they reported that Th56 isolate of Trichoderma harzianum induced maximum drought tolerance even at 9 Days Drought Stress (DDS). Results were also similar with [12] as they reported that seed biopriming of wheat with powdered formulation of drought tolerant isolates of Trichoderma harzianum tolerance against water stress condition and the isolates Rani Th-14, Rani Th-25 and Rani Th performed better (< 60%) to stand the plants against drought stress even up to Drought Stress (DDS).…”

Impact of Trichoderma asperellum on Chilling and Drought Stress in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

“…The association with T. asperellum improved the growth in tomato plants exposed to drought. Such results are in line with those of Khadka et al [70], Rawat et al [71], Mona [40], Zhao [72] and Scudeletti [45], who found that Trichoderma spp. enhanced the growth of rice, wheat, tomato, cucumber and sugarcane, respectively, after drought exposure.…”

Optimization of Culture Conditions and Production of Bio-Fungicides from Trichoderma Species under Solid-State Fermentation Using Mathematical Modeling

“…Next, 50 g of each colonized substrate of fungal bioagent solubilized with sterile distilled water was added to Erlenmeyer flasks (500 mL) containing 100 g of each carrier. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) (10g/kg), Tween 20 (1%), and glycerol (3%) were then added and mixed well [ 43 ]. The incubation period for T. asperellum AU131, inoculum concentration of T. longibrachiatum AU158, and moisture content and temperature for both biocontrol agents were as described by BBD in this study ( Section 2.3.1 ).…”