Enhancing the Potentiality of Trichoderma harzianum against Pythium Pathogen of Beans Using Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla, L.) Flower Extract

Abstract

Our present study was designed to investigate the role of both Trichoderma harzianum and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) flower extract in mutual reaction against growth of Pythium ultimum. In vitro, the activity of chamomile extract was found to reduce the radial growth of Pythium ultimum up to 30% compared to the control. Whereas, the radial growth reduction effect of T. harzianum against P. ultimum reached 81.6% after 120 h. Data also showed the productivity of total phenolics and total flavonoids by T. harzianum, was 12.18 and 6.33 mg QE/100 mL culture filtrate, respectively. However, these compounds were determined in chamomile flower extract at concentrations of 75.33 and 24.29 mg QE/100 mL, respectively. The fractionation of aqueous extract of chamomile flower using HPLC provided several polyphenolic compounds such as pyrogallol, myricetin, rosemarinic acid, catechol, p-coumaric acid, benzoic acid, chlorogenic acid and other minor compounds. In vivo, the potentiality of T. harzianum with chamomile flower extract against Pythium pathogen of bean was investigated. Data obtained showed a reduction in the percentage of rotted seed and infected seedling up to 28 and 8%, respectively. Whereas, the survival increased up to 64% compared to other ones. There was also a significant promotion in growth features, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total polyphenols and flavonoids, polyphenol-oxidase and peroxidase enzymes compared to other ones. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reported studies that included the mutual association of fungus, T. harzianum with the extract taken from the chamomile flower against P. ultimum, either in vitro or in vivo. In conclusion, the application of both T. harzianum and/or M. chamomilla extracts in the control of bean Pythium pathogen showed significant results.

Biological Control of Celery Powdery Mildew Disease Caused by Erysiphe heraclei DC In Vitro and In Vivo Conditions

“…Our results indicate that the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids, was significantly increased in celery leaves in response to the treatments compared to the untreated plants. This finding is supported by previous studies [88,89]. The increase in photosynthetic leaf pigments may be attributed to the elevation of hormones and the enhancement of mineral absorption, i.e., (Fe and Me), which are essential for chlorophyll synthesis [90,91].…”

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.): A Review of Ethnomedicinal Use, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Uses

“…The work of Elsemelawy indicated that Egyptian M. chamomilla powder was rich in flavonoids (luteolin O-acylhexoside and quercetin) and phenolic acids (ellagic acid, catechol, and chlorogenic acid) [102]. Another study on aqueous extract showed that the main compounds were also flavonoids (myricetin, quercetin, and naringenin) and phenolic acids (benzoic and rosmarinic acids) [53]. In their study on M. chamomilla from Slovakia, Petrul'ová-Poracká et al reported for the first time the presence of three coumarins in methanolic extract, skimmin (umbelliferone-7-O-β-D-glucoside), daphnin (daphnetin-7-O-β-D-glucoside), and daphnetin (7,8-dihydroxycoumarin) [103].…”

“…On the other hand, the antifungal potential of M. chamomilla allows its use as an agricultural tool. In the greenhouse, Ghoniem et al [53] reported the possible use of M. chamomilla aqueous extract to control Pythium ultimum fungus in bean crops. In addition, the possible use of M. chamomilla as a natural surfactant was studied.…”

“…The plant also allowed pain-relieving [45], wound healing [46], and acted as a protective agent for kidney and liver [47], gastrointestinal [48], and reproductive systems [49]. On the other hand, M. chamomilla can be used as an anesthetic in aquaculture [50], supplementary an-imal feed [51], and food industry [52], as antifungal in agriculture [53], as a surfactant agent in chemical enhanced oil recovery [54], and as an anti-corrosive agent in federated mild steel [55]. In addition, M. chamomilla EOs and/or extracts have been encapsulated into silica nanoparticles [56], silver nanoparticles [57], chitosan nanocapsules [58], and alginate microcapsules [59].…”

Context-Dependent Effects of Trichoderma Seed Inoculation on Anthracnose Disease and Seed Yield of Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris): Ambient Conditions Override Cultivar-Specific Differences

“…can trigger extensive metabolomic changes in bean plants [ 50 ] and induce the expression of pathogenesis-related proteins [ 51 ] or the activity of defense-related enzymes such as peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase [ 52 ]. Moreover, various strains of T. asperellum or T. harzianum have been shown to directly inhibit soilborne fungi that cause root rot and damping-off disease of P. vulgaris , thereby enhancing seedling emergence and early growth rate in soils contaminated with Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani , or from Phytium ultimum -infected bean seeds [ 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. While evidence for Trichoderma -mediated protection from soilborne disease by direct antibiosis is accumulating, few studies focused on systemic resistance, although T. harzianum seed inoculation has been reported to generate induced systemic resistance against Uromyces appendiculatus, the causal agent of bean rust [ 58 ].…”