Screening of Antagonistic <i>Trichoderma</i> Strains to Enhance Soybean Growth
This study investigates the isolation and screening of <i>Trichoderma</i> strains that exhibit antagonistic properties against soybean root-infecting <i>Fusarium</i> species, particularly <i>F. oxysporum</i>. From soybean rhizosphere soil, 37 antagonistic <i>...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/2/159 |
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| Summary: | This study investigates the isolation and screening of <i>Trichoderma</i> strains that exhibit antagonistic properties against soybean root-infecting <i>Fusarium</i> species, particularly <i>F. oxysporum</i>. From soybean rhizosphere soil, 37 antagonistic <i>Trichoderma</i> strains were identified using the plate confrontation method, demonstrating inhibitory effects ranging from 47.57% to 72.86% against <i>F. oxysporum</i>. Strain 235T4 exhibited the highest inhibition rate at 72.86%. Molecular identification confirmed that the strains belonged to eight species within the <i>Trichoderma</i> genus, with notable strains promoting soybean growth in greenhouse tests. In pot experiments, the application of <i>Trichoderma</i> significantly reduced the disease index of soybean plants inoculated with <i>F. oxysporum</i>, particularly with strain 223H16, which achieved an 83.78% control efficiency. Field applications further indicated enhanced soybean growth metrics, including increased pod numbers and plant height, when treated with specific <i>Trichoderma</i> strains. Additionally, <i>Trichoderma</i> application enriched the fungal diversity in the soybean rhizosphere, resulting in a significant reduction of <i>Fusarium</i> populations by approximately 50%. This study highlights the potential of <i>Trichoderma</i> species as biological control agents to enhance soybean health and productivity while improving soil fungal diversity. |
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| ISSN: | 2309-608X |