Role of Trichoderma asperellum in mitigating NaCl stress in tomato substantiated by anti-oxidative enzymes

Abstract

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that limits the growth and development of plants, and is no special to tomato. Scientists are in constant search for natural remedies against abiotic stress affecting crops worldwide. Beneficial microbes are abundantly available in nature, and if employed rationally, bound to benefit micro-biota of soil. Trichoderma sp. stimulates plant growth and resistance to a varied range of adverse environmental conditions. The present study demonstrates the effect of two Trichoderma asperellum isolates (T4 and T8) in alleviating the deleterious effects of varying concentrations of NaCl (0-200 mM) stress in tomato. Treatment with T. asperellum isolates reduced the effect of stress and tomato seedlings showed significant improvement in seed germination; shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh weight, plant dry weight and chlorophyll content along with decrease in seedling death as compared to control. The T. asperellum treatments in tomato plants under NaCl stress also significantly increased the soluble sugar and protein. The antioxidant enzymes, CAT, POX, SOD and APX in tomato seedlings also significantly increased with T. asperellum treatment, as compared to control. These results prove T. asperellum to be beneficial in imparting NaCl stress tolerance in tomato and a new paradigm for developing environmentally safe alternative for improvement of NaCl stress tolerance.