The Distribution Characteristics of <i>Trichoderma</i> in Turf and Its Inhibitory Effect on <i>Rhizoctonia solani</i>

Effective disease management is crucial for maintaining healthy turf. <i>Trichoderma</i> agents have emerged as a promising strategy for controlling turf diseases while reducing reliance on chemical fungicides. However, the distribution, diversity, and biocontrol potential of <i>Tr...

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Main Authors: Qichen Niu, Lu Gan, Shuxia Yin, Ning Zhang, Xin Suo, Guanfang Jin, Ruoyi Tang, Man Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/733
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Summary:Effective disease management is crucial for maintaining healthy turf. <i>Trichoderma</i> agents have emerged as a promising strategy for controlling turf diseases while reducing reliance on chemical fungicides. However, the distribution, diversity, and biocontrol potential of <i>Trichoderma</i> in turf ecosystems remain poorly understood. This study investigated <i>Trichoderma</i> strains isolated from rhizosphere soil of turf under different environmental and management conditions. Genetic distances were used to assess diversity, while co-culture assays evaluated inhibitory activity against <i>Rhizoctonia solani</i>. The Wilcoxon test was used for comparing diversity and antagonistic potential across environmental factors. The study identified <i>Trichoderma brevicompactum</i> and <i>Trichoderma harzianum</i> as the dominant species in turf ecosystems. <i>Trichoderma</i> diversity was highest in healthy turf under moderate management. However, strains from diseased turf showed stronger inhibitory effects on <i>Rhizoctonia solani</i>, suggesting that pathogen pressure and plant stress responses may enrich antagonistic <i>Trichoderma</i>. These findings provide valuable insights for the isolation and screening of <i>Trichoderma</i> species for effective biocontrol in turf management.
ISSN:2073-4395