Search Results (119)

Fungal contamination is a major constraint in fruit production and postharvest management, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives to conventional chemical fungicides. This study evaluated the antagonistic potential and biocontrol mechanisms of different Trichoderma spp. against four fruit-associated fungal pathogens, namely Talaromyces trachyspermus, Paecilomyces variotii, Stemphylium vesicarium, and Alternaria arborescens. The antagonistic activity of Trichoderma strains was assessed using dual-culture assays, while the antifungal activity of culture supernatants and the morphological interactions between Trichoderma and the target pathogens were examined to elucidate possible mechanisms of antagonism. All tested Trichoderma strains exhibited inhibitory activity against the target pathogens, with inhibition rates ranging from 32% to 100%. Among the tested strains, Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma harzianum showed the strongest overall antagonistic activity. In addition, culture supernatants of Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma longibrachiatum retained antifungal activity, indicating that extracellular metabolites may contribute to pathogen inhibition. Microscopic observations further revealed several mycoparasitic interactions, including adhesion to pathogen hyphae, hyphal coiling, penetration, morphological deformation, and hyphal lysis. Overall, the results demonstrate that the antagonistic activity of Trichoderma is both strain- and pathogen-specific and involves multiple complementary mechanisms. These findings highlight the potential of selected Trichoderma strains as biological control agents for managing fruit-associated fungal pathogens and as sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides in fruit production and postharvest disease management. Full article

Soil degradation caused by intensive agricultural management has become a major constraint on sustainable crop production, highlighting the need for multifunctional soil amendments capable of simultaneously improving soil structural quality and crop performance. In this greenhouse pot experiment, the effects of Trichoderma viride-fermented xylose residue on soil physical and chemical properties, aggregate stability, soil nutrient status, root development, photosynthetic characteristics, and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) growth were evaluated. The fermented amendment was incorporated into soil at application rates of 0 (CK), 0.5 (T1), 0.75 (T2), 1.0 (T3), 1.25 (T4), and 1.5% (T5) (w/w). Amendment application significantly affected soil structural characteristics and plant growth responses. Compared with the control, T3 and T4 increased the proportion of macroaggregates by 3.12% and 6.09%, respectively, whereas mean weight diameter increased by 26.81–29.76% under T3–T5. The T2 treatment produced the highest soil porosity, aeration porosity, capillary porosity, chlorophyll content, and net photosynthetic rate. Soil total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total carbon, and total organic carbon concentrations also differed significantly among treatments, while plant nitrogen and phosphorus contents were markedly enhanced under T2 and T3. Aboveground biomass increased by up to 59.80% relative to the control. Mantel analysis revealed significant associations among soil physical and chemical properties, aggregate characteristics, root morphology, plant nutrient contents, and biomass accumulation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that T. viride-fermented corncob xylose residue can improve soil structural properties and promote cucumber growth under greenhouse pot conditions. Among the application rates evaluated, 0.75% provided the most balanced overall response across soil physical properties and plant performance. The present study provides a basis for the utilization of fermented lignocellulosic residues as integrated bio-organic amendments for sustainable soil management. Full article

The genus Trichoderma comprises ecologically and biotechnologically important fungi that have been widely investigated and used in agriculture, industrial biotechnology, and biological control. However, publicly available genomes reveal substantial taxonomic inconsistencies across the genus, which can complicate strain identification, reproducibility, and the comparison and selection of strains for applied research and biotechnology. Here, we present a comprehensive phylogenomic and comparative genomic analysis integrating one of the largest collections of Trichoderma genomes analyzed to date. Phylogenomic reconstruction based on 920 conserved single-copy orthologs recovered four major evolutionary clades with strong statistical support and revealed widespread taxonomic inconsistencies affecting multiple species complexes, including T. harzianum, T. asperellum, T. viride, and T. longibrachiatum. Comparative analyses demonstrated marked clade-associated differences in genome size, GC content, repetitive DNA content, gene content, and whole-genome conservation patterns. Genome size was positively associated with repetitive-element accumulation and gene number, whereas GC content showed a negative association with genome size. We additionally characterized a novel Colombian isolate that clustered within a highly supported and divergent lineage together with three inconsistently annotated public genomes. This lineage, provisionally designated Trichoderma sp. “CB2”, formed a sister group to the Longibrachiatum complex and exhibited strong internal genomic cohesion and clear divergence from neighboring lineages. Orthology-based analyses identified lineage-associated proteins with predicted functions related to transcriptional regulation, plant biomass degradation, secondary metabolism, and detoxification. Overall, this study provides a genome-scale framework for resolving Trichoderma diversity and highlights the extent of taxonomic inconsistencies in public genomic resources. Improved phylogenomic characterization of strains can facilitate more reliable strain identification, reproducibility, comparative genomic studies, and the selection and evaluation of Trichoderma strains for agricultural and biotechnological applications. Full article

The European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is under increasing threat from the combined impact of the emerging fungal pathogen Gnomoniopsis castaneae, the causative agent of chestnut brown rot, and the Asian chestnut gall wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus), which is one of the most destructive invasive pests in chestnut orchards. This study evaluated the efficacy of endotherapy involving the injection of a multispecies Trichoderma-based biocontrol formulation (T. harzianum, T. viride, and T. atroviride) into the trunks of trees in two chestnut-growing areas in Tuscany, Italy. Independent trials were conducted using either a single spring application or two applications (autumn and spring) to assess the effects on brown rot, the gall wasp and its parasitoid, Torymus sinensis, as well as on major nut-feeding insects. Trunk injection significantly reduced the incidence of G. castaneae from 48.1% to 61.7% in untreated trees to 16.6%–28.1% in treated trees. The double application strategy showed promising results compared to untreated trees: increased larval mortality of D. kuriphilus, reduced bud infestation, and enhanced parasitisation by Torymus sinensis. These results demonstrate that trunk-injected Trichoderma is an effective, environmentally sustainable tool for the integrated protection of chestnut, suppressing brown rot, and supporting the biological control of the Asian gall wasp simultaneously. Full article

Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) may contribute to sustainable forage production, but their effects can vary with host species and plant trait. Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas putida, Trichoderma harzianum, and Trichoderma viride were evaluated alongside a non-inoculated control in Leucaena leucocephala and Megathyrsus maximus cv. Mombasa in northern Peru. Replicated germination and nursery experiments were complemented by a preliminary field assessment. Inoculation did not significantly affect final germination percentage in either forage species. In the nursery, L. leucocephala exhibited significant inoculant treatment effects on multiple growth traits, including positive responses in plant height and leaf number under B. subtilis, P. putida, and T. harzianum at the final evaluation. Significant treatment effects were also detected for several final aboveground and belowground growth traits, whereas total weight was not significantly affected. By contrast, growth variation in M. maximus cv. Mombasa was mainly associated with evaluation time, while microbial treatment and treatment × time effects were not significant. Multivariate analysis detected significant treatment and species × treatment effects, indicating contrasting joint growth-response profiles between the two forage species without demonstrating specificity of individual host–microorganism combinations. Preliminary field measurements showed numerical variation among treatment-associated rows, but these observations were descriptive only because treatments were neither randomized nor independently replicated. Overall, this comparative evaluation shows that PGPM responses in tropical forage species can be strongly species- and trait-dependent under nursery conditions, while validation of these responses under field conditions requires appropriately randomized and independently replicated experiments. Full article

Stem-end rot (SER) is an important postharvest disease that reduces the quality and marketability of star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito L.), while biological control offers a more sustainable alternative to chemical management. This study aimed to (i) select fungal strains causing SER disease in star apple and (ii) select and appraise strains of Trichoderma spp. fungi as antagonists to the selected fungi causing SER disease under in vitro conditions. Ten fungal isolates were obtained from symptomatic fruits, and 35 Trichoderma isolates were recovered from star apple rhizosphere soils. Five rapidly growing fungal isolates were evaluated using a detached-fruit pathogenicity assay, with three fruits per treatment. The five strains with the strongest expression of SER were selected and identified as Lasiodiplodia theobromae L-SA01, L-SA03, and L-SA07, L. venezuelensis L-SA02, and L. egytiacae L-SA06. Among 25 Trichoderma isolates screened for extracellular enzyme activities, T-SA05, T-SA30, and T-SA32 were selected for broad antagonistic activity and were provisionally associated with T. asperellum, T. yunnanense, and T. viride, respectively. At 72 h, these isolates showed antagonistic efficiencies of 55.4–58.9% against L-SA01, 64.9–69.6% against L-SA02, 80.8–82.4% against L-SA03, 58.6–59.3% against L-SA06, and 49.9–54.1% against L-SA07. L. venezuelensis and L. egytiacae were the two fungal species first found to cause SER. T. yunnanense was recently proven to control the Lasiodiplodia spp. fungi that cause SER. The selected isolates also exhibited chitinase and glucanase activities, although their enzyme profiles did not fully correspond to their antagonistic efficiencies. These findings identify indigenous Trichoderma isolates for further taxonomic confirmation and evaluation in postharvest fruit assays. Full article

In Amazonian Spodosols, soil acidity and nutrient constraints limit the cultivation of cutleaf groundcherry. One sustainable alternative for cultivating this species is the use of Trichoderma inoculants, but studies on their use in this crop are scarce. This study evaluated whether rice-based inocula of Trichoderma harzianum (TH) CCB-LA101 and T. viride (TV) CCB-LA103 improved growth and fruit production of cutleaf groundcherry and whether the responses varied with the application dose. Plants were grown in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement: two Trichoderma species and three inoculum doses applied to the soil (0, 4, and 8 g plant⁻¹; Trichoderma concentration of 3.2 × 10⁹ CFU g⁻¹). Species and dose affected fruit width, length, number, and yield, with TH more effective than TV at increasing fruit number and yield. The contrast between inoculated and non-inoculated plants was significant for all traits. The 8 g plant⁻¹ dose significantly increased fruit number and yield by 22.8% and 17.7%, respectively, relative to the non-inoculated control, whereas fruit width and fruit length decreased by 8.3% and 7.3%, respectively. Considering the six treatment combinations, the 8 g plant⁻¹ TH inoculum (TH8) was the only treatment to significantly increase fruit yield, with net returns for smallholders estimated at USD 1104.46 ha⁻¹. Therefore, under the tested conditions, TH8 could be used to grow cutleaf groundcherry in Amazonian Spodosols. Full article

Microbial inoculants such as Trichoderma have been proposed as sustainable tools to improve seedling quality in coffee nurseries; however, their effectiveness may vary according to formulation and genotype. This study evaluated three treatments: a solid Trichoderma formulation (1 kg m⁻³ of substrate) based on a multispecies consortium (T. harzianum, T. asperellum, and T. viride; 5 × 10⁹ conidia g⁻¹), a liquid formulation of T. harzianum (1 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹; 1 L m⁻³ of substrate), and a non-inoculated control, using three Coffea arabica varieties (Catimor, Marsellesa, and Gran Colombia) under controlled nursery conditions. A linear mixed model was applied, considering variety and inoculant type as fixed effects and replicates as random effects. The results show that the biostimulant response is strongly modulated by the variety × inoculant interaction. The solid formulation was superior in promoting the expansion of the photosynthetic apparatus, increasing leaf area by 24.6%. In turn, the liquid formulation optimized structural vigor, increasing stem diameter by 17.3% and reducing slenderness by 13.1%. Inoculation reduced the lignification index by 10.4%, favoring dynamic vegetative growth. These improvements were integrated into the Dickson Quality Index, which reached values of 0.41–0.70, greatly exceeding the critical threshold of 0.20 for medium- to high-quality seedlings. It is concluded that Trichoderma acts as a physiological compensator that harmonizes plant architecture, although its efficacy depends on specific compatibility with the genotype, which is essential for ensuring the successful establishment of coffee plants under field conditions. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a key legume with high agronomic and nutritional value, widely cultivated for its high-protein seeds and its capability to improve soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation. Recently, co-inoculation strategies combining Rhizobia bacteria with growth-enhancing fungi from the genus Trichoderma have gained increasing attention as a way to enhance soybean productivity and resilience under variable environmental conditions. The present study, conducted in 2023–2024, examined how seed inoculation treatments (Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Trichoderma viride) affect soybean productivity, seed quality, and soil biochemical changes expressed as the activity levels of selected soil enzymes—dehydrogenases (DHA), catalase (CAT), acid phosphatase (ACP), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)—as well as the biological fertility index (BIF). The findings indicated that co-inoculation positively influenced plant productivity and produced the highest seed yields among all treatments tested, exceeding the control by 25.6%. Furthermore, inoculated seeds were characterized by improved seed quality, expressed by higher germination capacity (80%) and greater average seedling length (4.74 cm). The bacterial strains used to inoculate soybean seeds increased soil biochemical activity and improved fertility, particularly under unfavorable rainfall distribution during the growing season. Co-inoculation can be recommended as an effective and environmentally friendly element of soybean cultivation technology, supporting yield stability in variable weather conditions. Further research is recommended in longer multi-year series and under various habitat conditions. Full article

As a society, we are facing an environmental crisis, and as a result, nature-based and environmentally friendly solutions are gaining increasing popularity. The development of environmentally friendly wood-protection systems is an important challenge in materials science. In this study, lanolin-based emulsions were systematically evaluated as natural agents for improving the hydrophobicity and biological durability of wood. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) samples were treated with four types of lanolin emulsions, including variants containing boric acid, and subsequently analysed in terms of contact angle, resistance to wood-decay fungi (Coniophora puteana and Pleurotus ostreatus), and susceptibility to mould and microfungi growth (Chaetomium globosum; and mixture of: Chaetomium globosum, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium, Paeciliomyces variotti, Alternaria tenuis, and Trichoderma viride). This study investigates whether, and to what extent, the application of lanolin affects surface hydrophobization and thus improves its resistance to fungi. The results demonstrate that lanolin treatments, like paraffin or carnauba wax, significantly increase surface hydrophobicity, with contact angles rising from approximately 58° for untreated wood to 85–105° for treated samples. This effect is associated with reduced biological degradation, as evidenced by lower mass loss in treated samples compared to controls. Depending on the formulation, mass loss was reduced by up to approximately 30 percentage points for Coniophora puteana and up to approximately four percentage points for Pleurotus ostreatus. The incorporation of boric acid further enhanced resistance to wood-decay fungi, while slightly reducing contact angle values. The results indicate that lanolin-based emulsions can effectively improve both the moisture resistance and the biological durability of wood. The study provides a comprehensive experimental assessment of lanolin as a sustainable alternative to conventional hydrophobic agents and demonstrates its potential for application in wood-protection systems. Full article

This study investigates the accumulation, volatilization, and metabolic effects of two iodine species (iodide and iodate) in selected filamentous fungi. Six environmentally relevant fungal strains were cultivated under controlled conditions, and iodine distribution between biomass, culture medium, and volatilized fraction was quantified using ICP-MS. Additionally, changes in extracellular metabolite production were determined by capillary isotachophoresis. The results revealed pronounced species-specific differences in iodine transformation. Fusarium poae exhibited the highest accumulation capacity, reaching up to 409.5 mg·kg⁻¹ dry weight, and showed the most efficient overall iodine uptake from the cultivation medium. In contrast, Alternaria tenuissima and Trichoderma viride demonstrated elevated volatilization rates, particularly under iodate treatment, indicating distinct transformation pathways. Exposure to iodine species also induced significant changes in extracellular organic acids production. Increased levels of acetate, succinate, and sorbate suggest that iodine affects fungal metabolic activity, likely through stress-related shifts in central carbon metabolism and redox balance. These findings demonstrate that filamentous fungi employ diverse strategies for iodine transformation, including accumulation, volatilization, and metabolic adaptation. The results highlight the important role of fungi in regulating iodine speciation and mobility and provide new insights into their contribution to the terrestrial iodine cycle. Full article

Municipal wastewater represents an underutilized secondary biomass resource rich in organic carbon and nutrients that can be valorized through biotechnological conversion. In this study, we developed an integrated multi-microbial biorefinery platform to transform municipal wastewater into value-added biofuel via sequential bacterial treatment, microalgal biomass generation, and fungal-assisted harvesting. Wastewater was first pretreated with Bacillus subtilis to enzymatically hydrolyze complex organic substrates and enrich the medium with bioactive metabolites, including auxins and gibberellins. The conditioned wastewater was subsequently used to cultivate Chlorella vulgaris, followed by biomass recovery using Trichoderma viride pellets as a sustainable bioflocculant. The integrated consortium significantly enhanced nutrient removal efficiency and promoted algal biomass accumulation, lipid enrichment, and biodiesel productivity compared to monoculture controls. Elevated hydrolytic enzyme activities (cellulase, protease, and amylases) facilitated organic matter conversion into bioavailable substrates, while increased phytohormone levels stimulated algal growth and lipid biosynthesis. Additionally, fungal bioflocculation substantially improved biomass recovery efficiency, reducing the need for energy-intensive harvesting technologies. This work highlights the potential of a biotechnology-driven approach for integrating wastewater remediation with biofuel production. By integrating microbial metabolism, enzymatic transformation, and sustainable separation processes, the proposed biorefinery system suggests a potentially low-carbon approach for simultaneous environmental remediation and biomass valorization, although further life cycle and energy balance analyses are required to validate this aspect. Full article

The utilization of microorganisms as biocontrol agents represents a sustainable alternative to agrochemicals. Trichoderma spp. has been identified as a fungus that promotes plant growth and suppresses phytopathogens. Nonetheless, conventional commercial formulations are constrained by factors such as their limited shelf life, environmental sensitivity, and inadequate carrier systems. In this study, Trichoderma harzianum (T22) and T. viride (T18) strains were encapsulated in a hydrogel composed of chitosan, gelatin, and polyvinyl alcohol, which was prepared by pH-induced gelation via alkaline precipitation. The characterization of the hydrogels was conducted in several domains. Initially, the water absorption of the samples was examined at varying pH values. Secondly, the morphology of the samples was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and stereo microscopy. Thirdly, the chemical interactions in the hydrogels were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The final stage of the experiment involved assessing the degradation behaviour of the hydrogels in both sterile and inoculated soils. The efficacy of the isolates in protecting chilli plants from Phytophthora capsici was subsequently evaluated. As demonstrated in the extant research, encapsulation techniques have been shown to preserve the viability of fungal organisms and promote their growth after 10 days of storage at ambient temperature. These effects have been observed to exhibit strain-dependent variations. It is noteworthy that hydrogels loaded with T. viride (HT18) induced resistance against P. capsici, resulting in complete symptom suppression and enhanced plant growth, whereas hydrogels loaded with T. harzianum (HT22) showed no protective effect. These results demonstrate the potential of the hydrogel formulated with T18 as an effective carrier, as it maintains Trichoderma spp. viability and protects chilli plants against P. capsici infection. Full article

Background/Objectives: Apple pomace, a major by-product of juice production, represents both an environmental burden and an underutilized resource. This study aimed to enhance the nutritional value of apple pomace via solid-state fermentation (SSF) to develop a functional feed ingredient and systematically evaluate its effects on growth, metabolism, and intestinal health in weaned piglets. Methods: Apple pomace was fermented using a multi-species consortium (Geotrichum candidum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhizopus oryzae, Bacillus subtilis, and Trichoderma viride). A total of 180 weaned piglets were fed iso-nitrogenous diets containing 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10% fermented apple pomace for 35 days. Growth performance, serum biochemical and immuno-antioxidant indices, diarrhea incidence, jejunal morphology, and fecal microbiota were analyzed. Results: Dietary fermented apple pomace supplementation showed dose-dependent effects. The 8% fermented apple pomace group exhibited optimal growth performance, with increased average daily gain and feed intake and reduced feed-to-gain ratio (p < 0.05). Serum analysis indicated enhanced protein synthesis, antioxidant capacity (T-AOC, SOD, GSH-Px), and immunoglobulin levels (IgA, IgG, IgM), along with reduced urea nitrogen and oxidative stress marker MDA. This group also had the lowest diarrhea rate, associated with improved jejunal villus morphology. Microbiota analysis revealed that 8% fermented apple pomace effectively increased α-diversity, promoted beneficial bacteria (e.g., lactic acid bacteria and butyrate-producing Clostridium sensu stricto_1), and suppressed pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus). Conclusions: Multi-species SSF successively enhanced the nutritional profile of apple pomace. Inclusion at 8% showed the most favorable response in terms of growth performance, metabolic profile, and immune–antioxidant status in weaned piglets, mediated through improved intestinal morphology and targeted modulation of the gut microbiota toward a more diverse and beneficial ecosystem. These findings support the high-value, functional utilization of apple pomace as a feed additive in swine nutrition. Full article

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) sustains global caloric intake, but its productivity in Andean highlands is constrained by soil fertility and input reliance. This study represents one of the first field-based evaluations of biofertilizers under high-altitude, rainfed Andean conditions, addressing a major knowledge gap in low-input mountain agroecosystems. This study evaluated three seed-applied biofertilizers—Azospirillum brasilense, Trichoderma viride (Trichomax), and an anchovy (Engraulis ringens) based liquid biofertilizer, compared with an untreated control and a soil-test mineral fertilization benchmark in rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. INIA 405 in the central Andes of Peru. A 5 × 5 Latin square design (25 plots) was established under farmer-realistic conditions. At physiological maturity (Zadoks 9.5), plant height, spike length, grains per spike, thousand-grain weight, test weight, root dry mass, and grain yield were recorded. Mineral fertilization achieved the highest yield (1.20 ± 0.79 t ha⁻¹), nearly doubling the control (0.60 ± 0.47 t ha⁻¹). Notably, A. brasilense delivered an intermediate yield of 0.90 ± 0.64 t ha⁻¹, representing a 50% increase over the control—accompanied by a marked rise in root dry mass. T. viride and the anchovy-based input yielded 0.85 ± 0.59 and 0.81 ± 0.59 t ha⁻¹, respectively. Grain physical quality remained stable across treatments (thousand-grain weight ≈ 42 g; test weight 68–75 kg hL⁻¹). Trait responses were complementary: root dry mass increased with mineral fertilization and A. brasilense, whereas spike length increased with mineral fertilization and the anchovy-based input. Overall, the evidence supports biofertilizers, particularly A. brasilense, as effective complements that enable partial fertilizer substitution within integrated nutrient-management strategies for sustainable wheat production in Andean rainfed systems. Full article