The Protective Effect of Trichoderma asperellum on Tomato Plants against Fusarium oxysporum and Botrytis cinerea Diseases Involves Inhibition of Reactive Oxygen Species Production

Abstract

Trichoderma species are fungi widely employed as plant-growth-promoting agents and for biological control. Several commercial and laboratory-made solid formulations for mass production of Trichoderma have been reported. In this study, we evaluated a solid kaolin-based formulation to promote the absortion/retention of Trichoderma asperellum in the substrate for growing tomato plants. The unique implementation of this solid formulation resulted in an increased growth of the tomato plants, both in roots and shoots after 40 days of its application. Plants were challenged with two fungal pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum and Botrytis cinerea, and pretreatment with T. asperellum resulted in less severe wilting and stunting symptoms than non-treated plants. Treatment with T. asperellum formulation inhibited Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production in response to the pathogens in comparison to plants that were only challenged with both pathogens. These results suggest that decrease in ROS levels contribute to the protective effects exerted by T. asperellum in tomato.

Effects of Foliar Treatment with a Trichoderma Plant Biostimulant Consortium on Passiflora caerulea L. Yield and Quality

“…Light intensity stress in plants is associated with higher production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [103]. It was shown that Trichoderma treatments reduce the effects that are produced on plants by various biotic or abiotic stresses by the modulation of the reactive oxygen species and reduction of their accumulation at pathological level [104][105][106]. A similar mechanism, together with the increase in the number and surface of chloroplasts, could be probably involved in our study, the treatment inducing protection of the blue passion plant against high light intensity by a reduction of accumulation of reactive oxygen species.…”

Menadione Sodium Bisulfite-Protected Tomato Leaves against Grey Mould via Antifungal Activity and Enhanced Plant Immunity

“…Invading B. cinerea led to plant cell deaths and H 2 O 2 accumulation in tomato leaf tissues and suspension cultured cells ( Asselbergh et al, 2007 ; Pietrowska et al, 2015 ). H 2 O 2 produced in the grey mould lesions was limited in biologically-protected leaves of tomato plants in response to B. cinerea infection ( Herrera-Téllez et al, 2019 ). N -Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) reduced both tomato grey mould necrotic lesions and H 2 O 2 generation in the lesions ( Sivakumaran et al, 2016 ).…”

Parameters of Drainage Waters Collected during Soilless Tomato Cultivation in Mineral and Organic Substrates

“…These fungi are known not only as biocontrol agents, but they also support plant growth and root development and induce plant defense mechanisms [47]. There are numerous reports in the literature about the beneficial effects of Trichoderma on tomato growth and yielding, for example Uddin et al [48] or Herrera-Téllez et al [49]. However, in the presented studies, no positive effect on the yield of tomato was found in the substrates highly colonized by these fungi (Table 10).…”