Influence of salt tolerantTrichodermaspp. on growth of maize (Zea mays) under different salinity conditions

Abstract

In the present study, a total of 70 Trichoderma spp. were isolated from the rhizosphere soils of vegetable and spice crops that were grown in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Initial screening of Trichoderma spp. for salt tolerant properties showed 32 isolates were able to tolerate 10% NaCl. Furthermore, these isolates were screened for their potential plant growth-promoting characteristics such as IAA production, phosphate solubilization, and siderophore production. Among 32 isolates, nine isolates were able to produce IAA, siderophore, and solubilize phosphate. Jar trial was carried out on maize under axenic conditions at 1.67, 6.25, 11.25, 17.2, and 22.9 dS m salt stress using the best nine isolates. Three isolates (TRC3, NRT2, and THB3) were effective in improving germination percentage, reducing reduction percentage of germination (RPG) and also in increasing the shoot and root length under axenic conditions. These three isolates were further tested under pot trial at 52 (sea water), 27, 15, 7, and 1.67 dS m . TRC3 was found to be the most effective isolate compared to the other isolates and significantly increased the physiological parameters like shoot, root length, leaf area, total biomass, and stem and leaf fresh weight at all stress levels. Similarly, total chlorophyll content also increased by TRC3 over control. All three isolates, NRT2, TRC3, and THB3 showed lower accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) content whereas, proline and phenol content were higher than the uninoculated control plants under both normal and saline conditions. The results suggest that these isolates could be utilized for the alleviation of salinity stress in maize.

Seed Biopriming with Salt-Tolerant Endophytic Pseudomonas geniculata-Modulated Biochemical Responses Provide Ecological Fitness in Maize (Zea mays L.) Grown in Saline Sodic Soil

“…Further, many microbes have been found which directly synthesize growth hormones or elicit plant system to produce and regulate essential growth regulators in an indirect way finally resulting in better plant growth [62][63][64]. However, further evidences are needed to verify the exact role of bioinoculant along with other putative mechanisms participating in microbe-mediated salinity tolerance in maize crop [65][66][67][68].…”

Alleviation of the effects of saline-alkaline stress on maize seedlings by regulation of active oxygen metabolism by Trichoderma asperellum

“…Pandey et al used a 1×10 7 concentration of Trichoderma to alter the physiological and molecular mechanisms of drought resistance in rice [21]. Kumar et al applied a 1×10 8 concentration of Trichoderma to improve salt resistance in maize [22]. Brotman et al used a concentration of 1×10 6 to investigate the effects on oxidation resistance in cucumber under salt stress [13].…”

Production of Tamarindus indica L. seedlings submitted to substrates and pre-germination methods

“…Therefore, the seed soaked in Trichoderma may be an alternative in the substitution of the physical scarification method, as it is easier to handle and provides vigorous changes, because these fungi break the hard endocarp and potentially reduce the mechanical resistance to germination in dormant seeds (Delgado-Sánchez et al 2013). The beneficial function of the fungus inoculation also provides a greater root development and nutritional absorption by plants (Kumar et al 2017).…”