Exploitation of Agro-Industrial Residues for the Formulation of a New Active and Cost Effective Biofungicide to Control the Root Rot of Vegetable Crops

Abstract

This study aimed to produce an economic and stable biofungicide based on a new effective antagonistic strain (Trichoderma harzianum JF419706) via the exploitation of agro-industrial lignocellulosic residues as carriers for fungal growth to control the root rot diseases of vegetable crops. Trichoderma harzianum JF419706 showed a good resistance to a chemical fungicide with two-fold of the recommended dose. It was able to propagate on corn stovers amended with 20% of date molasses, as a very cheap substrate, up to 2.90 × 1016 CFU/g after 30 days. Formulation of the bioagent on the substrate as a fine powder (FTB) increased the shelf-life up to 8 months with good viability (9.37 × 1011 CFU/g). The bioagent propagated itself in the rhizospheric soil about two-fold of the initial inoculum. Application of the FTB, as a seed treatment, suppressed the root rot disease severity percentage of cucumber, lettuce, and tomato plants to 70.0%, 61.5%, and 53.8%, respectively, from the control. The crop yield increased by 50%, 35%, and 30% in the same order of the three crops. FTB promoted the growth and physiological processes of the plants significantly compared with the control. Our study recommends the application of the FTB as a cost-effective biofungicide and biofertilizer in crop management, singly or as a part of integrated pest management, to ensure the sustainability of green farming and reduce the chemical input in cultural practices.

Avances en la Economía Circular del Ecuador. Una estrategia para la sostenibilidad basada en Métodos BIPLOT

“…The optimal storage temperature is 4 °C, while high temperatures affect the viability of Trichoderma spores [45]. An adequate dose of spores of Trichoderma strains makes it possible to obtain an adequate amount for use in biopesticides that enhance plant health in different horticultural crops [46]. The use of two culture media in the propagation of the fungi makes it possible to obtain strains with different characteristics and, through the use of statistical techniques such as PCA biplot and GGE biplot, we can determinate the specific strain of Trichoderma with the highest values of mycelial growth and antagonistic capacity against cocoa-crop pathogens, with the aim of controlling monialisis infection.…”

“…La Figura 9a indica que 8 muestras de las harinas de la Mezcla 1 (5,6,8,13,20,26,28,36) presentaron mayor contenido de proteína, humedad y grasa, 4 muestras de las harinas de la Mezcla 1 ( 1,17,24,37) presentaron mayor contenido de fibra dietética total (FDT), 8 muestras de la Mezcla 1 (10,18,21,31,32,34,46,47) mostraron los valores más altos de carbohidratos, y 1 muestra de la Mezcla 1 (30) indicó el mayor valor de ceniza. Por otro lado, la Figura 9b señala que 13 muestras de las harinas de la Mezcla 2 (2,4,5,7,13,14,27,30,32,37,44,45,48) presentaron mayor contenido de proteína , humedad y grasa, y 13 muestras de las harinas de la Mezcla 2 (3,12,18,20,22,25,26,28,29,40,41,42,43) mostraron los valores más altos de ceniza y fibra dietética total (FDT).…”

“…La temperatura óptima de almacenamiento es de 4 °C, mientras que las altas temperaturas afectan la viabilidad de las esporas de Trichoderma (Serna-Díaz et al, 2020). Una dosis adecuada de esporas de cepas de Trichoderma permite obtener una cantidad adecuada para su uso en bioplaguicidas que mejoran la sanidad vegetal en diferentes cultivos hortícolas (Hashem et al, 2021).…”

“…The optimal storage temperature is 4 • C, while high temperatures affect the viability of Trichoderma spores [45]. An adequate dose of spores of Trichoderma strains makes it possible to obtain an adequate amount for use in biopesticides that enhance plant health in different horticultural crops [46].…”

“…La Figura 10a indica la presencia de 2 clústers importantes de muestras de la Mezcla 1: El Clúster 1 "color azul" formado por 11 muestras (10,16,28,31,32,33,34,35,38,45,46) que presentaron mayor relación con la actividad antimicrobiana, y el Clúster 2 "color rojo" formado por 28 muestras (1, 2, 5, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27 , 29, 30, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50) mostraron los valores más altos de actividad antimicrobiana, pH y actividad de agua (aw). Por lo otro lado, la Figura 10b señala la presencia de 3 grandes clústers de muestras de la Mezcla 2: Clúster 1 "color rojo" formado por 15 muestras (1,2,4,7,23,24,27,31,32,33,35,43,44,48,50 ) que mostraron mayor relación con la actividad del agua (aw), el Clúster 2 "color verde" formado por 22 muestras (3,5,10,11,12,13,18,19,21,25,26,28,29,30,36,37,38,41,42,45,46,47) mostraron los valores más altos de actividad antimicrobiana y pH,...…”