Sustainable Agricultural Practices in Disease Defence of Traditional Crops in Southern Italy: The Case Study of Tomato Cherry Protected by Trichoderma harzianum T-22 Against Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV)

Abstract

Nowadays, crop production is at risk due to global warming, especially in Mediterranean areas where the increase of air temperature and/or reduction of precipitation is relevant. Climate changes that are occurring can severely prejudice plant defensive mechanisms during host-pathogen interactions by modifying growth and physiology of the host plant. In particular, viral diseases cause serious economic losses destroying crops and reducing agronomic productivity, and, in some cases such as tomato crops, they become the limiting factor production of both open field and under greenhouse cultivation systems. This is because plant viruses are obligate parasites and require living tissue for their multiplication and spread. Therefore, they are able to interfere with plant metabolism and compete for host plant resources, so determining a decrease of plant growth and productivity. Severe outbreaks of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and other viruses caused disruption of tomato plants in the Mediterranean region and in Southern Italy since the 1970s. In such a scenario, it is necessary to introduce new strategies for controlling plant pathogens and parasites in order to help maintain ecosystems and to boost sustainable agriculture. The aim of this work is to give an up-to-date overview on the recent breakthroughs in the use of microorganisms on plants for improving crop yields, quality and plant tolerance against pathogens. In particular, here we report a case study regarding an innovative strategy to control a viral disease (CMV) in tomato, based on the use of rhizosphere microorganism (Trichoderma harzianum, strain T-22) as an antagonist biocontrol agent (BCA).

Root Morphology, Allometric Relations and Rhizosheath of Ancient and Modern Tetraploid Wheats (Triticum durum Desf.) in Response to Inoculation with Trichoderma harzianum T-22

“…are known to ameliorate plant performance thanks to their double ability to improve plant growth and development, and to induce plant defense responses against several pathogens, insects and abiotic stress [19,[27][28][29][30]. For this reason Trichoderma-based products are a major source of registered biofertilizers and biofungicides that can be used in crop sustainable management as biostimulants and for plant disease control [31][32][33]. Seed coating with a commercial product containing Trichoderma harzianum T-22 has been shown to improve seedling vigor and also to enhance the protection against the fungal pathogen Fusarium culmorum in the susceptible durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) cv.…”

Effects of Trichoderma harzianum Strain T22 on the Arthropod Community Associated with Tomato Plants and on the Crop Performance in an Experimental Field

“…Knowledge of the adverse effects of agrochemicals on human health and the environment has led to the search for environmentally friendly methods to control plant diseases and pests. Beneficial soil microbes promoting plant defenses, such as non-pathogenic bacteria [ 56 ], mycorrhizal fungi [ 57 , 58 , 59 ], and plant-growth-promoting fungi [ 18 , 60 ], are a possible alternative to pesticides. Fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma are known as plant growth promoters and control agents against plant pathogens [ 18 ].…”

Seed Coating with Trichoderma harzianum T-22 of Italian Durum Wheat Increases Protection against Fusarium culmorum-Induced Crown Rot

“…Their mechanisms of action include competition for nutrients, mycoparasitism, production of inhibitory volatiles and non-volatile compounds and hydrolytic enzymes and siderophores, and induction of defense mechanisms in plants [10,12]. In fact, Trichoderma-based products currently represent the main source of registered biofungicides for use in sustainable crop management to control plant diseases and to induce biostimulant effects [10,[13][14][15].…”