The Physiological Effect of Trichoderma viride on Melon Yield and Its Ability to Suppress Rhizoctonia solani

Abstract

Melon damping off, which has a negative impact on melon quality and yield, can be safely and effectively managed with Trichoderma. Melon cultivar ‘Longtian No. 1’ was evaluated at both the adult and seedling stages in a pot experiment. The Rs and PD liquids were utilized as CK1 and CK2, respectively. Trichoderma viride Tv286 treatments T1B, T2B, T3B, and T4B were used based on Rs at concentrations of 104, 105, 106, and 107 CFU·g−1, respectively. The impact of several treatments on the antioxidant system and seedling quality of melon were assessed at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing. We examined the effects of several treatments on melon quality, yield attributes, and physiological and biochemical markers during the adult stage at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination. The effects of several treatments on melon damping off were also studied. Applying T. viride Tv286 at different rates effectively increased the activities of enzymes, including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), in the leaves of melon seedlings, significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and improved the root–shoot ratio and seedling strength index. In terms of its influence on promoting the effect of antioxidant system indicators, T3B performed well. Melon seedlings treated with T3B showed higher CAT, POD, SOD, APX, and PPO activities in their leaves 35 days after sowing compared to CK1 (189.74, 169.61, 175.36, 224.20, and 477.39%, respectively). The strong seedling index and root–shoot ratio showed improvements of 130.43 and 79.71%, respectively, and the MDA content dropped by 35.66% at 35 days after sowing compared to CK1. Varying the rates at which T. viride Tv286 was applied increased the nitrate reductase (NR) activity and nitrate nitrogen, proline (Pro), chlorophyll, soluble sugar, and soluble protein contents in mature melon leaves, increasing melon quality and yield. T3B is the most effective marketing campaign. Compared to CK1, mature T3B leaves had higher NR activity, nitrate nitrogen content, chlorophyll content, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, and Pro content 30 days after melon pollination (100.40, 135.17, 68.59, 93.65, 158.13, and 238.67%, respectively). The soluble solids, soluble protein, soluble sugar, vitamin C contents, and yield of melon fruit increased by 50.07, 126.82, 60.62, 70.79, and 61.45%, respectively, at 30 days after melon pollination compared to CK1. Optimal management of melon damping off can be accomplished with the application of T. viride Tv286 at different concentrations, with T3B exhibiting the best effect. The control effects reached 90.48 and 72.99% at the seedling and adult stages, respectively. Overall, T. viride Tv286 improved seedling quality, damping off control efficacy, melon yield and quality, and the antioxidant system during the seedling stage and enhanced physiological and biochemical characteristics during the adult stage. This study indicates the potential of T. viride Tv286 conidia as a biological control agent because it can prevent plant disease, increase yield, and improve quality.