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Summary: Globally, potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a key staple food crop. In Kenya, it is the second most important food crop after maize. Among the various constraints to potato production are plant-parasitic nematodes. In particular, root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are a significant impediment to potato production, suppressing yield and reducing the quality of harvested tubers. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a lignocellulose fibre matrix (banana paper) either impregnated with a chemical or drenched with a biologically-based nematicide for the management of root-knot nematodes on potatoes, in Kenya. The experiment was conducted in both field and pot trials over two consecutive cropping seasons. Wrapping seed potatoes in banana paper impregnated with abamectin or drenched with Trichoderma asperellum (Real Trichoderma®) led to suppression of soil Meloidogyne incognita densities by 87% and 68% in the field, and 86% and 40% in pots, respectively, which led to a 3.3- and 3.7-fold increase in yield in the field. This novel technology, also referred to as 'Wrap & Plant', presents a practical option for nematode management in potato under the resource-limited conditions of sub-Saharan Africa and offers potential for the targeted management of other soil-borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed Trichoderma spp. as a biocontrol agent for managing wilt‐nematode complex in tomato crops, aiming to mitigate yield losses. Fusarium sp. and Meloidogyne sp. were isolated from infected plant samples and confirmed molecularly and morphologically as Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and Meloidogyne incognita. Four Trichoderma spp. procured from the Department of Plant Pathology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India were identified molecularly as Trichoderma asperellum (Tv1), Trichoderma asperelloides (Tasd1), Trichoderma harzianum (Th1), and Trichoderma koningiopsis (Tk1) utilizing ITS and TEF1 primer pairs. Among them, Tv1 effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of pathogen isolates. Furthermore, crude metabolite of Tv1 exhibited similar effects. The mortality rate of M. incognita J2s ranged from 90.48% to 100% after 24–72 h of incubation and inhibition percentage of egg hatching reached 90.20%. The shoot length, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight of the tomato plants treated with Tv1 conidia were increased. In a pot experiment, Tv1 treatment reduced disease incidence by 64.57%, comparable to carbendazim treatment (82.32%). Tv1‐treated plants had fewer root galls, egg masses, and J2s per 100 g of roots than the inoculated‐untreated control plants. The root‐knot index (RKI) was significantly lower in plants treated with carbafuran (1.98 ± 0.047) and Tv1 (3.06 ± 0.086) than in control (4.47 ± 0.109). The bio‐control efficiency of Tv1 against M. incognita was 21.04%, and the nematodes' reproductive factor (RF) declined to 0.53 in Tv1 treatment group. Based on the findings above, it was established that Tv1 effectively controlled nematode populations and wilt disease when applied in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the biosynthesis, statistical optimization, characterization, and biocontrol activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) produced by newly isolated Trichoderma sp. The Trichoderma asperellum strain TA-3N was identified based on the ITS gene sequence, together with its phenotypic characteristics (GenBank accession number: OM321439). The color change from light yellow to brown after the incubation period indicates AgNPs biosynthesis. The UV spectrum revealed a single peak with the maximum absorption at 453 nm, indicating that T. asperellum produces AgNPs effectively. A Rotatable Central Composite Design (RCCD) was used to optimize the biosynthesis of AgNPs using the aqueous mycelial-free filtrate of T. asperellum. The optimal conditions for maximum AgNPs biosynthesis (156.02 µg/mL) were predicted theoretically using the desirability function tool and verified experimentally. The highest biosynthetic produced AgNPs by T. asperellum reached 160.3 µg/mL using AgNO3 concentration of 2 mM/mL, initial pH level of 6, incubation time of 60 h, and biomass weight of 6 g/100 mL water. SEM and TEM imaging revealed uniform spherical shape particles that varied in size between 8.17 and 17.74 nm. The synthesized AgNPs have a Zeta potential value of −9.51 mV. FTIR analysis provided insights into the surface composition of AgNPs, identifying various functional groups such as N–H, -OH, C-H, C=O, and the amide I bond in proteins. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays demonstrated that AgNPs in combination with T. asperellum can mitigate the toxic effects of Fusarium oxysporum on barley. This intervention markedly enhanced cell division rates and decreased chromosomal irregularities. The results indicate that AgNPs synthesized by T. asperellum show the potential as an eco-friendly and efficient method for controlling plant diseases. Further studies are necessary to investigate their possible use in the agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen is essential for plants' growth, yield, and crop quality, and its deficiency limits food production worldwide. In addition, excessive fertilization and inefficient use of N can increase production costs and cause environmental problems. A possible solution to this problem is the application of biofertilizers, which improve N assimilation and increase biomass and yield. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of the application of a combination of green and red algae (Ulva lactuca and Solieria spp.), Rhizobium sp., Trichoderma asperellum, and the combination of the above three biofertilizers on N assimilation. A completely randomized design was performed, with 10 plants per treatment and five treatments: T1 = control; T2 = algal extracts; T3 = Rhizobium sp.; T4 = T. asperellum; T5 = T2 + T3 + T4. Our analyses showed that the biofertilizers' application was better than the control. The application of Rhizobium sp. had the best performance amongst all of the biofertilizers, with the highest nitrate reductase activity in maize leaves, which enhanced photosynthesis, increasing biomass and yield. The use of Rhizobium sp. showed increases in biomass (13.4%) and yield (11.82%) compared to the control. This research shows that biofertilizers can be a key component for sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One effort to increase shallot production is the use of beneficial fungi. This research aims to determine the interaction between variety, type of fungus, and application dose on the growth and yield of shallot plants. The experimental design was a split-split-plot design consisting of 3 treatment factors. The main plot of varieties consists of Maserati, Sanren F1, Lokananta, and Tuk-Tuk. The subplots are types of fungi consisting of Trichoderma asperellum, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Glomus sp. The sub-subplots, namely fungus application doses, consist of 0 g, 7 g, and 14 g. The interaction between the three treatment factors variety, fungus type, and application dose is only significant in the chlorophyll index parameter. This significant interaction was observed in the combination of the Maserati variety with the application of Metarhizium anisopliae at a dose of 7 g. Growth characteristics such as plant height and number of leaves were individually affected by the variety and the type of fungus used. Likewise, regarding production parameters, bulb diameter was only influenced by the interaction between the variety and the type of fungus and the variety and the application dose. Observations of the stomata opening area were only influenced individually by the variety. In contrast, the density of the stomata was influenced by the interaction between the variety and the type of fungus. Overall, the influence of varieties is highly dominant, so cultivar selection is an important aspect to consider in shallot cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen is essential for plants’ growth, yield, and crop quality, and its deficiency limits food production worldwide. In addition, excessive fertilization and inefficient use of N can increase production costs and cause environmental problems. A possible solution to this problem is the application of biofertilizers, which improve N assimilation and increase biomass and yield. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of the application of a combination of green and red algae (Ulva lactuca and Solieria spp.), Rhizobium sp., Trichoderma asperellum, and the combination of the above three biofertilizers on N assimilation. A completely randomized design was performed, with 10 plants per treatment and five treatments: T1 = control; T2 = algal extracts; T3 = Rhizobium sp.; T4 = T. asperellum; T5 = T2 + T3 + T4. Our analyses showed that the biofertilizers’ application was better than the control. The application of Rhizobium sp. had the best performance amongst all of the biofertilizers, with the highest nitrate reductase activity in maize leaves, which enhanced photosynthesis, increasing biomass and yield. The use of Rhizobium sp. showed increases in biomass (13.4%) and yield (11.82%) compared to the control. This research shows that biofertilizers can be a key component for sustainable agricultural practices.

This study aimed to improve the thermal stability of 42 kDa chitinase from T. asperellum SH16 produced in N. benthamiana through site-directed mutagenesis for application in post-harvest fruit and vegetable preservation. In this work, thermostable mutants were predicted using bioinformatics tools, gene expression was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, chitinase activity was determined spectrophotometrically, and the antifungal activity of chitinase was evaluated through inhibition of mycelial growth. The results showed that six selected mutants were successfully expressed in N. benthamiana and had in vitro antifungal activity against Colletotrichum siamense AD1.2. Among them, mutant I168L has a higher optimal temperature, thermal stability, and enzymatic activity than native chitinase and other mutants. Further analysis showed that, after 6 h of treatment at 40 °C, the relative activity of I168L remained about 50%, but that of native chitinase was only more than 15%. Besides, the I168L mutant could maintain a relative activity of about 78% and 50% after 30 min at 60ºC and 70ºC, while the native chitinase had only 38% and 12%, respectively. The Km and Vmax of the I168L mutant were both lower than those of native chitinase: 6.99 mg/mL and 254 units/mg vs. 11.24 mg/mL and 512 units/mg, respectively. Mutant I168L showed the ability to prevent and treat chili anthracnose disease caused by C. siamense CH26.1, which was many times stronger than the native chitinase at 35ºC. This finding suggests that the thermostable chitinase, I168L, has potential for applications in post-harvest fruit and vegetable preservation.Key message: This study screened insilico a mutant chitinase named I168L, derived from Trichoderma asperellum. The I168L exhibited significantly greater thermostability and Collectotrichum antifungal activity than the native chitinase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural polymer chitin is an abundant source for valuable N-acetylchitooligosaccharides and N-acetylglucosamine applicable in several industries. The endochitinase Chit36-TA from Trichoderma asperellum was recombinantly expressed in Komagataella phaffii for the enzymatic degradation of chitin from unused insect exuviae into N-acetylchitooligosaccharides. Chit36-TA was purified by Ni–NTA affinity chromatography and subsequently biochemically characterized. After deglycosylation, the endochitinase had a molecular weight of 36 kDa. The optimum pH for Chit36-TA was 4.5. The temperature maximum of Chit36-TA was determined to be 50 °C, while it maintained > 93% activity up to 60 °C. The chitinase was thermostable up to 45 °C and exhibited ~ 50% activity after a 15 min incubation at 57 °C. Chit36-TA had a maximum specific enzyme activity of 50 nkat/mg with a Km value of 289 µM with 4-methylumbelliferyl-N,N′,N″-triacetyl-β-chitotrioside as substrate. Most tested cations, organic solvents and reagents were well-tolerated by the endochitinase, except for SDS (1 mM), Cu2+ (10 mM) and Mn2+ (10 mM), which had stronger inhibitory effects with residual activities of 3, 41 and 28%, respectively. With a degree of hydrolysis of 32% applying colloidal shrimp chitin (1% (w/v)) and 12% on insect larvae (1% (w/v)) after 24 h, the endochitinase was found to be suitable for the conversion of colloidal chitin as well as chitin from black soldier fly larvae into water-soluble N-acetylchitooligosaccharides. To prove scalability, a bioreactor process was developed in which a 55-fold higher enzyme activity of 49 µkat/l and a tenfold higher protein expression of 1258 mg/l were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Brewing is the property of China Brewing Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Surveys were made in the Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts of the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India during 2017-2018 for the collection of mummified insect samples from different mango orchards in order to isolate entomopathogenic fungi. The collected mummified insect samples were brought to the laboratory and incubated on PDA plates. Those samples showing growth on PDA plates were sub-cultured until pure fungus growth was obtained. They were tested for their pathogenicity in the laboratory and 14 samples were found pathogenic to mango hoppers. They were sent to NFCCI, Agarkar Research Institute, Pune for identification. Out of the 14 entomopathogenic samples identified, 7 were from Genus Fusarium, 4 were mixed cultures of Fusarium and Aspergillus, and one sample each from Genus Trichoderma, Mucor and Nigrospora. Studies showed that Fusarium species were the most common entomopathogenic fungi associated with mango pests, especially mango hoppers. Laboratory evaluation of these samples showed that amongst different isolated entomogenus fungi, Fusarium semitectum sample 16(1) was more pathogenic to mango hoppers than other fungal samples. Field evaluation of this sample also proved its efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field trials were conducted for two seasons in two experimental sites (Mwea in Kirinyaga and Ngoliba in Kiambu counties of Kenya) to assess the efficacy of fungal endophytes Hypocrea lixii F3ST1 and Trichoderma asperellum M2RT4 in the control of Trialeurodes vaporariorum vector of tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV) and tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) through seeds inoculation. TICV and ToCV’s disease incidence, severity and the yield were also evaluated. All the fungal endophytes successfully colonized all the tomato plant parts, but the highest root colonization was observed in H. lixii F3ST1 compared to the T. asperellum M2RT4 in both seasons. The number of nymphs was significantly lower in the endophytically colonized tomato plants than the control treatments in all the seasons and at both sites. However, the lowest number of nymphs was recorded in H. lixii F3ST1 compared to T. asperellum M2RT4. On the other hand, the TICV and ToCV disease incidence and severity rates were lower in endophytically colonized tomato crops compared to the control plots. This could be attributed to the reduction in the virus replication and lower feeding ability of T. vaporariorum that was characterized by less excretion of honeydew causing sooty mold. However, no significant difference was observed in ToCV disease severity rates among the treatments and across the seasons. The yield was significantly higher in endophyte plots than the control treatments in both sites and across the two seasons. This study demonstrates that H. lixii F3ST1 and T. asperellum M2RT4 endophytically colonized tomato plants and conferred systemic resistance against T. vaporariorum vector, and significantly reduced the transmission of TICV and ToCV, contributing to high reduction of both diseases’ incidence and severity in the field. However, further studies are warranted to confirm these results at large scale trials.

Abstract The experiment was conducted at the Department of Plant Pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to identify T. asperellum in a countrywide screening program and to evaluate its antagonistic effect against several soil borne pathogens. Samples were collected from the rhizosphere soil of 49 different crops in 107 different locations in Bangladesh, especially, considering the several isolates of T. asperellum for purification. Based on morphological and physiological features, fifteen isolates were selected. Of these, the isolates of TR27 and TR45 were grown and sporulated at 40 °C except all the isolates with 35 °C, and particularly, showing a decrease of mycelial growth across all the isolates for increasing pH. Meanwhile, T. asperellum showed significant antagonistic effects against Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotium rolfsii and Pythium aphanidermatum, resulting in reducing foot and root rot, collar rot and damping off diseases, respectively. Four isolates were selected for molecular characterization among 15 isolates in terms of higher mycelial growth and spore density in-vitro condition, isolates of (TR27) Sadar, Moulvibazar (Rice), (TR45) Sadar, Mymensingh (Sweet gourd), (TR70) Chapra, Chapai Nawabganj (Sesame) and (TR85) Nayanpur, Lalmonirhat (Maize) were studied at ITS and TEF region. Isolates of TR45, TR70 and TR85 were observed with 98% homology, and TR27 exhibited 88% in their respective closest isolates at ITS sequences. Isolates of TR27 and TR85 also exerted their respective nearest homology (96%), while TR45 showed 99%, and 93% homology with TR70 in TEF sequences. Isolates TR45, TR70 and TR85 were evidently determined as T. asperellum of 100% bootstrap value, and TR27 isolate was also recognized with 72% bootstrap value in the phylogenetic tree. However, complementary effects of significant superior homology and the greatest bootstrap value in the identification of T. asperellum were found as noteworthy. In the phylogenetic analysis, magnificent differentiation among the Trichoderma isolates within and among the groups of closely related species was observed in Tef1 region than reflecting maximum variability in the isolates of rDNA at ITS region, whereas demonstrating a higher transversion ratio and evolutionary divergence.

Biological control agents are preferred over chemicals for managing plant diseases, with Trichoderma species being particularly effective against soil-borne pathogens. This study examines the use of a highly antagonistic strain, Trichoderma asperellum A10, and a virulent strain, Sclerotium rolfsii Sr38, identified and confirmed through ITS, β-tubulin (T. asperellum), TEF 1α, and RPB2 (S. rolfsii) sequences. In vitro and in planta experiments compared the antagonistic potential of A10 with other antagonistic fungi and fungicides against S. rolfsii. A10 achieved 94.66% inhibition of S. rolfsii in dual culture assays. In greenhouse trials with tomato variety Pusa Ruby, A10 showed significant pre- and post-inoculation effectiveness, with disease inhibition of 86.17 and 80.60%, respectively, outperforming T. harzianum, Propiconazole, and Carbendazim. Additionally, microbial priming with A10 was explored to enhance plant defense responses. Pre-treatment of tomato plants with T. asperellum A10 led to significant upregulation of several defense-related genes, including PR1, PR2, PR3, PR5, PR12, thioredoxin peroxidase, catalase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, isochorismate synthase, laccase, prosystemin, multicystatin, WRKY31, MYC2, lipoxygenase A, lipoxygenase C, proteinase inhibitor I, proteinase inhibitor II, and ethylene response 1 associated with various signaling pathways such as salicylic acid (SA)-mediated and jasmonic acid/ethylene (JA/ET)-mediated responses. This upregulation was particularly evident at 48 h post-inoculation in A10-primed plants challenged with S. rolfsii, inducing resistance against collar rot disease. This study underscores the effectiveness of T. asperellum A10 in controlling collar rot and highlights its potential for inducing resistance in plants through microbial priming, providing valuable insights into sustainable disease management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damping-off disease, caused by Pythium aphanidermatum, significantly impacts tomato production. This study explored the potential of a two-pronged approach for enhanced biocontrol: combining two antagonistic Trichoderma asperellum strains (CB-Pin-01 and NST-009) with a plant immune stimulant (CaCO3). Laboratory assays demonstrated strong individual efficacy of both Trichoderma strains against P. aphanidermatum, with significant growth inhibition and overgrowth capabilities. Importantly, scanning electron microscopy confirmed their compatibility. Greenhouse experiments revealed that the combined application of Trichoderma strains and CaCO3 achieved the most significant reduction in disease incidence (17.78%) compared to the control (66.55%). Furthermore, this treatment resulted in 100% root colonization by Trichoderma and the highest population density in the soil (6.17 × 107 CFU g−1), suggesting the immune stimulant's role in promoting beneficial microbe establishment. These findings highlight the potential of this combined strategy as a sustainable and effective approach for managing damping-off disease in tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Aedes aeg ypti, originally from Africa, has spread globally and is the main vector of dengue in Colombia. The repeated use of insecticides has generated resistance in these mosquitoes, prompting the search for complementary strategies. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the fungus Trichoderma asperellum, isolated from the municipality of La Virginia (Risaralda, Colombia), as a biocontrol agent for Ae. aeg ypti. Methodology. In vitro bioassays were conducted with larvae exposed to a concentration of 1x10^8 conidia/mL of the fungus, observing mortality at 24, 48, and 72 hours. Semi-field trials were carried out in the same region, using a concentration of 1x10^7 conidia/mL in containers with Aedes larvae from the area, evaluating larval mortality at 48 hours. To analyze the difference between treated and untreated groups, the Wilcoxon test (P=0.05) was applied using the R program version 4.4.0 (https://www.r-project. org/). Results. T. asperellum showed high pathogenicity, causing 95% and 99% mortality in the in vitro and semi-field tests, respectively. Conclusion. This is the first report of this species infecting immature stages of Ae. aeg ypti in our country. These results suggest that it could be used in Colombia as an alternative to traditional control methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the hazard of sclerotia produced by the Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is very complex, and it is urgent to adopt an effective method that is harmonious environmentally to control the disease. Among the six isolates isolated from the rhizosphere of lettuce, the isolate HZA84 demonstrated a high activity in its antagonism towards Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in vitro, and produces siderophore. By amplification of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α), and RNA polymerase II subunit (RPB2) genes, the isolate HZA84 was identified as Trichoderma asperellum, which was confirmed by analysis of phylogenetic tree. The Scanning electron microscope monitoring detected that the isolate HZA84 spread over the sclerotial surface, thus, damaging, decomposing, and distorting the globular cells of the outer cortex of the sclerotia. The Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis disclosed the overexpression of two genes (chit33 and chit37) encoding the endochitinase in addition to one gene (prb1) encoding the proteinase during 4 and 8 days of the parasitism behavior of isolate HZA84 on the sclerotia surface. These enzymes aligned together in the sclerotia destruction by hyperparasitism. On the other hand, the pots trial revealed that spraying of isolate HZA84 reduced the drop disease symptoms of lettuce. The disease severity was decreased by 19.33 and the biocontrol efficiency was increased by 80.67% within the fourth week of inoculation. These findings magnify the unique role of Trichoderma in disrupting the development of plant diseases in sustainable ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of Trichoderma asperellum organic extract and its emulsion to control cocoa black pod disease caused by Phytophthora megakarya. Organic extract was obtained after fermentation of T. asperellum and its emulsion prepared by emulsification. The in vitro antimicrobial assays of organic extract and its emulsion were evaluated and the in situ tests were carried out on detached cocoa pods. T. asperellum inhibited the mycelia growth of P. megakarya at the rates of 52% and 100%, respectively, on dual culture and the cellophane plate. This antagonist produced lytic enzymes such as cellulase, amylase, lipase and protease. The organic extract contained alkaloid, flavonoid and phenol compounds. The emulsion obtained was stable. At 100 μg · ml -1, the extract and its formulation completely inhibited the mycelial growth of P. megakarya. Similarly, when infected detached cocoa pods were sprayed with extract or emulsion, there was a significant reduction of necrosis both for healing and prevention with the latter being the most efficient. For the preventive tests, the total inhibition was recorded at 3000 μg · ml -1 and 1000 μg · ml -1, respectively, with crude organic extract and its emulsion· For curative tests, total inhibition was obtained at 4000 μg · ml -1 and 3000 μg · ml -1, respectively, for preventive and curative tests. There was a significant and positive correlation between the content of biochemical markers and the reduction of necrosis on cocoa pods after treatment with the extract or its formulation. T. asperellum organic extract emulsion could be used as an alternative in the bio- protection of cocoa black pods disease.

Penyakit akar gada pada tanaman kubis, yang disebabkan oleh jamur Plasmodiophora brassicae, merupakan ancaman serius bagi pertanian kubis. Penyakit ini menyebar dengan cepat pada suhu hangat dan kondisi pH yang asam. Limbah kotoran sapi yang dibuang oleh peternak sapi di Desa Pujon dialirkan ke dalam saluran air dan digunakan untuk irigasi pertanian, yang berpotensi mencemari lahan pertanian dan meningkatkan suhu dan keasaman tanah. Penggunaan kotoran sapi mentah sebagai bahan organik pada lahan pertanian turut mempercepat pertumbuhan jamur P. brassicae. Pengendalian biologis dengan menggunakan Trichoderma asperellum dan kapur menunjukkan potensi dalam mengurangi penyakit akar gada dan membantu dalam dekomposisi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi efektivitas T. asperellum dan kapur dalam mendekomposisi kotoran sapi dan mengendalikan penyakit akar gada. Penelitian dilakukan di Desa Pujon Kidul, Malang, dan Laboratorium Penyakit Tumbuhan di Universitas Brawijaya selama periode lima bulan mulai dari Februari hingga Juni 2021. Penelitian terdiri dari dua tahap: pertama, dekomposisi kotoran sapi menggunakan T. asperellum dan kapur, dan kedua, aplikasi produk dekomposisi pada tanaman kubis yang terinfeksi penyakit akar gada. T. asperellum dan kapur efektif mengurangi insiden penyakit akar gada menjadi 0% dalam perlakuan T5P1 (20 hari penambahan T. asperellum pada kotoran sapi + kontrol), T4P2 (15 hari penambahan T. asperellum pada kotoran sapi + kapur), dan T5P2 (20 hari penambahan T. asperellum pada kotoran sapi + kapur), sementara pengamatan mikroskopis gejala penyakit menunjukkan penurunan hingga 10% dalam perlakuan T5P2 (20 hari penambahan T. asperellum pada kotoran sapi + kapur), menunjukkan tingkat efikasi yang tinggi pada perlakuan tersebut.

Sustainable plant production requires less use of synthetic chemicals in plant nutrition and protection. Microbial products are among the most promising substitutes for chemicals. With the increasing popularity and availability of such products, it has become obligatory to use different microbes together. The effect of this has been tested in several studies, but their results have sometimes been contradictory depending on the microbial strains tested and the mode of application. We tested the effect of two commercially available antagonists and Funneliformis mosseae alone and in combination on tomato. Mycorrhizal treatment increased plant growth and yield, both alone and combined with the antagonists; however, mycorrhizal root colonization was not influenced by the antagonist. This treatment also led to a slight decrease in the occurrence of Trichoderma spp. on tomato roots but did not impede the colonization of roots by the applied Trichoderma strain. Our result confirmed that Trichoderma asperellum (T34) and Streptomyces griseoviridis (K61) can be safely combined with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), namely with F. mosseae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

True shallot seed (TSS) is one of the alternative potential technologies to solve the availability of seed quality on shallot in Indonesia. Another problem in shallot production is infection by purple blotch and twisted disease. This research evaluated the potency of Rhizophagus intraradices and Trichoderma asperellum as bioprotectants and biofertilizer. T. asperellum was mixed in the soil before seedling transplanting, and R. intraradices was applied around the seedling roots at transplanting. The observed parameters were the shallot growth (the plant height, number of leaves, and length of root), plant health (disease incidence and intensity), and bulb resistance to Fusarium solani. The result showed that R. intraradices and T. asperellum increased the resistance of onion bulbs to the pathogen F. solani in the postharvest period, indicated by R. intraradices treatment that had an infection area of 21.99 mm², followed by T. asperellum treatment 26.63 mm², and control of 37.66 mm². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) are an emerging control tool that inhibits the quorum sensing (QS) system of pathogenic bacteria. We aimed to screen for potential QSIs in the metabolites of Trichoderma and to explore their inhibitory mechanisms. RESULTS: We screened a strain of Trichoderma asperellum LN004, which demonstrated the ability to inhibit the color development of Chromobacterium subtsugae CV026, primarily attributed to the presence of emodin as its key QSI component. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription results showed that after emodin treatment of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc), plant cell wall degrading enzyme‐related synthetic genes were significantly downregulated, and the exogenous enzyme synthesis gene negative regulator (rsmA) was upregulated 3.5‐fold. Docking simulations indicated that emodin could be a potential ligand for ExpI and ExpR proteins because it exhibited stronger competition than the natural ligands in Pcc. In addition, western blotting showed that emodin attenuated the degradation of n‐acylhomoserine lactone on the ExpR protein and protected it. Different concentrations of emodin reduced the activity of pectinase, cellulase, and protease in Pcc by 20.81%–72.21%, 8.38%–52.73%, and 3.57%–47.50%. Lesion size in Chinese cabbages, carrots and cherry tomatoes following Pcc infestation was reduced by 10.02%–68.57%, 40.17%–88.56% and 11.36%–86.17%. CONCLUSION: Emodin from T. asperellum LN004 as a QSI can compete to bind both ExpI and ExpR proteins, interfering with the QS of Pcc and reducing the production of virulence factors. The first molecular mechanism reveals the ability of emodin as a QSI to competitively inhibit two QS proteins simultaneously. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Diseases caused by Fusarium pathogens lead to significant yield losses on many economically important crops. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antagonistic capability and chemical profile of the bioagent Trichoderma asperellum against several Fusarium strains. The efficacy of this strain in reducing Fusarium‐root rot disease in dry bean was also examined. RESULTS: The T. asperellum strain was identified based on sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and tef1 gen regions of ribosomal DNA. Dual cultural assay demonstrated their antagonistic activity against the studied Fusarium strains due to the probable combination of competition, mycoparasitism and antibiosis. This strain was positive for cellulase, chitinase and protease activity. The crude extracts of T. asperellum significantly suppressed the growth of the tested Fusarium strains with inhibition zone values ranging from 7.3 to 19.7 mm and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.15 to 1.42 mg mL−1. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of cell free supernatant and mycelial biomass of T. asperellum showed the presence of 27 and 21 compounds, respectively. The main compounds responsible for the bioactivity were butylated hydroxytoluene, hexadecanoic acid, 9‐octadecenoic acid, ergosterol and hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester. Trichoderma asperellum significantly increased plant emergence and reduced root rot caused by Fusarium solani in dry bean grown under glasshouse and field trials. Further, plant biomass and dry bean yield were higher in T. asperellum‐treated plants than in control plants. CONCLUSION: Trichoderma asperellum was highly effective, through various mechanisms, against Fusarium strains especially F. solani which causes root rot in dry bean. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rice is the key cereal crop in the tropics, supporting diverse pests and natural enemy populations. Recurrent pest outbreaks and yield losses led farmers to rely on extensive insecticide application, disturbing the stability of rice ecosystems and increasing residues in the harvestable products. A study has been conducted to assess the impact of various modules of Bio-Intensive Pest Management (BIPM) on its conservational potential and sustainability in comparison with Farmers’ Practices (FP) in Nalgonda district of Telangana state during kharif-2020. The BIPM practices included application of farm yard manure; rice husk ash; clipping of seedlings; alleyways and weekly release of Trichogramma japonicum in the main field; wet seed treatment and foliar application with Pseudomonas fluorescens (BIPM 1), Trichoderma asperellum strain TAIK1 (BIPM 2) and Bacillus cabrialesii strain BIK3 (BIPM 3). Whereas, FP 1 with need-based insecticide spraying and FP 2 with schedule-based insecticide spraying and Untreated control with (UC) with no intervention. The observations were taken by visual counts at 15-day intervals. The incidence of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis was highest in UC (9.50), followed by BIPM 1 (7.25) and least in FP 2 (2.50) whereas the highest mean population of Apanteles sp. was found in the untreated control (13.75), followed by BIPM 3 (9.50) and least in FP 2 (4.25). The Benefit Cost Ratios (BCR) of BIPM 3 (1.68) were highest followed by BIPM 1 (1.64) and least in FP 2 (1.40) elucidating that BIPM practices can be more economically feasible. The Shannon-Wiener Index for species diversity and species evenness was higher in BIPM treatments as compared to farmers’ practices indicating the potential of these BIPM treatments in natural pest control and maintaining crop ecosystem stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora is one of the main diseases of strawberries and significantly impacts the yield and quality of strawberry fruit. Currently, the only accessible control methods are fungicide sprays, which could have an adverse effect on the consumers of the strawberries. Biological control is becoming an alternative method for the control of plant diseases to replace or decrease the application of traditional synthetic chemical fungicides. Trichoderma spp. are frequently used as biological agents to prevent root rot in strawberries. In order to provide highly effective biocontrol resources for controlling strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora, the biocontrol mechanism, the control effects of T. asperellum CMT10 against strawberry root rot, and the growth-promoting effects on strawberry seedlings were investigated using plate culture, microscopy observation, and root drenching methods. The results showed that CMT10 had obvious competitive, antimycotic, and hyperparasitic effects on N. clavispora CMGF3. The CMT10 could quickly occupy nutritional space, and the inhibition rate of CMT10 against CMGF3 was 65.49% 7 d after co-culture. The inhibition rates of volatile metabolites and fermentation metabolites produced by CMT10 were 79.67% and 69.84% against CMGF3, respectively. The mycelium of CMT10 can act as a hyperparasite by contacting, winding, and penetrating the hyphae of CMGF3. Pot experiment showed that the biocontrol efficiency of CMT10 on strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora was 63.09%. CMT10 promoted strawberry growth, plant height, root length, total fresh weight, root fresh weight, stem fresh weight, and root dry weight by 20.09%, 22.39%, 87.11%, 101.58%, 79.82%, and 72.33%, respectively. Overall, this study showed the ability of T. asperellum CMT10 to control strawberry root rot and its potential to be developed as a novel biocontrol agent to replace chemical fungicides for eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover crops during the off-season and multifunctional microorganisms represent strategic technologies with potential to enhance the sustainability of soybean production. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cover crop mixes and the application of multifunctional microorganisms on the economic analysis, gas exchange, yield components and grain yield of soybean plants. The experimental design followed a randomized block pattern, in a 6 x 2 factorial arrangement, with four replications. The treatments consisted of six cover crop combinations [fallow (control); millet (Pennisetum glaucum) with crotalarias (Crotalaria juncea, C. spectabilis and C. ochroleuca); millet and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajanus); millet and Urochloa ruziziensis; millet, U. ruziziensis and pigeon pea; millet and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)], with or without the application of a Trichoderma asperellum pool. The combination of millet + U. ruziziensis and millet + U. ruziziensis + pigeon pea showed the highest dry matter production and yielded the greatest nutrients content in the straw, which could provide a reduction in fertilization for the following crop. The soybean plants cultivated after millet + U. ruziziensis and millet + U. ruziziensis + pigeon pea demonstrated elevated photosynthetic rates and improved the instantaneous water-use efficiency. The application of multifunctional microorganisms led to a 16 % increase in the photosynthetic rate of the soybean plants. The highest yield was achieved by the soybean plants cultivated in areas with millet + U. ruziziensis and millet + U. ruziziensis + pigeon pea. Moreover, the application of multifunctional microorganisms contributed to increase the pod count per meter, grains per pod, mass of 100 seeds and overall soybean grain yield.

In order to explore the application potential of aspartic protease (Asp) of Trichoderma sp., the protease gene (asp) was cloned from Trichoderma asperellum by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and was successfully expressed in Pichia Pastoris GS115. The recombinant protease (rAsp) was isolated and purified, and its biochemical properties and its effectiveness in hydrolyzing soy protein isolate (SPI) were studied. The results showed that the protease encoded by the asp gene belonged to the aspartic protease family, and its sequence identity with other members of this family was up to 47.74%. The protease activity of rAsp in the fermentation broth obtained by induced expression in a conical flask was 25.8 U/mL. The optimal reaction pH and temperature of rAsp were 2.5 and 45 ℃, respectively, and rAsp had strong stability in the pH range of 2.0–6.0 and below 45 ℃. The activity of rAsp was promoted by Cu2+ and Mn2+ but inhibited by Fe3+, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and pepstantin. The hydrolysis efficiency of SPI with rAsp was 7.7% higher than that with commercial pepsin. Moreover, the ability of rAsp to reduce the allergenicity of β-conglycinin and glycinin was 1.4 and 1.8 times greater than that of the pepsin, respectively. Therefore, rAsp has potential application in soy protein processing.

Fusarium oxysporum is the primary pathogen of blueberry root rot; furthermore, we found that Fusarium commune can also cause root rot in blueberries. Trichoderma spp. is widely used to control plant diseases. We isolated Trichoderma asperellum (TM11) from blueberry rhizosphere soil to explore its control effect and mechanism on F. oxysporum and F. commune. We found that the inhibitory effects of TM11 volatiles and broth metabolites on F. oxysporum were significant, but only F. commune volatile metabolites had a significant inhibitory effect on its growth. Twelve known antimicrobial metabolites were detected from the methanol extract of TM11 fermentation broth by HPLC-MS. TM11 lysed and coiled around the hyphae of F. oxysporum and F. commune. The pot experiment showed that TM11 had significant control effects against F. oxysporum and F. commune, and inoculation of TM11 prior to that of F. oxysporum and F. commune was more effective. The TM11, TM11 and F. oxysporum, or F. commune and distilled water treatments had different effects on the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase, and the enzyme activity levels exhibited the following order: TM11 > TM11 and F. oxysporum or F. commune > distilled water. The results showed that TM11 provided effective control of blueberry root rot.

Abstract Background One of the primary corn diseases, banded leaf and sheath blight, is carried on by the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani. Efforts to control R. solani are more directed at environmentally friendly control using a biological control agent, such as Trichoderma spp. as antagonistic agents and plant growth promoter. This study aimed to identify T. asperellum isolates based on molecular characteristics and to determine the in vitro inhibition mechanism against R. solani and its role in enhancing the growth of corn seedlings. Results The HMRP7, HMRF7A, HMEDF1B, HMEDF6A, and CHM01 isolates were identified as T. asperellum with a genetic distance coefficient value of 0.000 and a very high similarity of 100%. Meanwhile, the RsHM isolate was identified as R. solani with a homology level of > 90% and genetic distance coefficient values ranging from 0.000 to 0.032. The antagonistic ability showed that the five T. asperellum isolates were able to inhibit the growth of R. solani in vitro on PDA medium with an inhibition percentage of ≥ 50%, so they were categorized as antagonist agents. T. asperellum showed the antagonistic mechanism in inhibiting the R. solani growth through the action of parasitism. The five T. asperellum isolates tested on corn seedlings showed a significantly high difference from the control treatment on the observational variables of maximum growth potential (MGP), growth rate (GtR), growth simultaneity (GS), vigor index (VI), germination rate (GR), and median germination time (T50). Conclusion CHM01 isolate showed better potential than other isolates in inhibiting the growth of R. solani in vitro on PDA medium with a parasitism mechanism and enhancing the growth of corn seedlings.

Endophytic Trichoderma asperellum (D7) from Dendrobium orchids was explored for its antimicrobial potential through characterization and identification of bioactive compounds. Bio-guided fractionation of crude extracts of T. asperellum (D7) afforded 7 fractions with antimicrobial activities against bacterial pathogens (Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a plant pathogen (Ganoderma boninense). Among the fractionated extracts, fraction 1 was most effective towards P. aeruginosa (MIC: 1.25 mg/mL) while fraction 4 had the strongest inhibitory activities against B. cereus (MIC: 2.5 mg/mL) and G. boninense (50.62% inhibition). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) analysis led to the identification of antimicrobial compounds from fraction 1 (paeoniflorin, kanzonol N, 2-nonynoic acid, fenpropidin, (+)-tetrandrine, 12(13)-EpOME-d, rifamycin, linoleic acid(d4) and 3α,12α-dihydroxy-5β-chol-8(14)-en-24-oic acid) and fraction 4 (morpholine, epothilone A, tetroquinone, loperamide, 2,5-dimethoxycinnamic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl ethanol, pyropheophorbide A, streptomycin, 5-hydroxystreptomycin, rifamycin, leucomycin A1, sophoradiol, 5R-hydroxy-hexanoic acid, 2-undecanol, 3-methyl-2-quinoxalinone, scandenin and lumichrome) of T. asperellum (D7). Several of the antimicrobial compounds were revealed for the first time for endophytic T. asperellum (D7). The identification of bioactive compounds from T. asperellum (D7) would contribute to the development of natural antimicrobials, agrochemicals, fungicides and pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study involves simulating climate changes under phytotron conditions, providing novel insights into the combined impact of elevated temperature (20–24 °C, 24–28 °C, 28–32 °C) and CO2 levels (800–850 ppm) compared to standard CO2 concentrations on calcium oxide, potassium phosphite, Streptomyces griseoviridis, Trichoderma asperellum and Beauveria bassiana. The study focuses specifically on their effects in the lettuce-Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (race 1) pathosystem. Temperature was the main factor that influenced Fusarium wilt severity in the inoculated and untreated controls and the efficacy provided by the tested products. Potassium phosphite generally provided consistent disease reduction under all the tested conditions, and it resulted to be more effective at 20–24 °C× 400–450 ppm of CO2 (76% efficacy) than at 800 ppm of CO2 (47% efficacy), while calcium oxide provided the greatest lettuce wilt severity reduction (43 − 46% efficacy) at 20–24 °C, with the tested CO2 concentrations having no significant effect. B. bassiana provided consistent disease control at 20–24 °C (53–56% efficacy) for both CO2 concentrations, while increases in CO2 significantly improved the efficacy of S. griseoviridis across this temperature range. T. asperellum was inconsistent in the biocontrol of the pathogen under all the here tested environmental conditions. Potassium phosphite and B. bassiana provided the best Fusarium wilt reduction, that is, of 23–35% and 28–32%, respectively, for the 24–28 °C temperature range and for both the tested CO2 concentrations, while calcium oxide was only effective for the standard CO2 level (30% efficacy). None of the tested biocontrol agents were effective at 28–32 °C with 400–450 ppm of CO2. In practical management, understanding how the tested biocontrol agents and resistance inducers respond to climate change is essential to set plant protection strategies accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standardization of cultivation processes that allow high levels of conidia growth and formation is required to formulate Trichoderma products to combat fungal diseases in agronomically important crops. This study evaluated the effects of inoculation using different inoculum concentrations (1.0x105, 1.0x106, and 1.0x107 conidia mL-1) and inoculum volumes (10, 30, and 50 mL). Later, it evaluated the effect of adding microelements (CaCO3, KH2PO4, MgSO4*7H2O, and (NH4)2SO4) on the conidiogenesis of two strains of Trichoderma asperellum (GRB-HA01 and GRB-HA02) in solidstate and liquid fermentation processes. After 12 days of fermentation, the highest conidiogenesis values for Trichoderma asperellum GRB-HA01 (6.9x109±5.7x10² conidia g-1) and Trichoderma asperellum GRB-HA02 (1.3x109±1.4x10² conidia g-1) were achieved using an inoculum volume of 10 mL at a concentration of 1.0x07 conidia mL-1. Adding CaCO3 (1 g g-1), resulted in the highest conidia concentrations for Trichoderma asperellum GRB-HA01 (3.0x1011±2.5x10² conidia g-1) and Trichoderma asperellum GRB-HA02 (8.6x1010±1.1x10¹ conidia g-1), reducing fermentation times to 9 days. The conidiogenesis obtained with liquid fermentation was lower and affected Trichoderma asperellum GRB-HA01 (3.1x107±1.1x10² conidia g-1) and Trichoderma asperellum GRB-HA02 (3.1x109±2.8x10² conidia g-1). This study showed that inoculation and adding microelements were important factors in the conidiogenesis processes of Trichoderma asperellum GRB-HA01 and GRB-HA02. Additionally, it was evidenced that solid-state fermentations are more efficient than liquid fermentation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of Trichoderma asperellum organic extract and its emulsion to control cocoa black pod disease caused by Phytophthora megakarya. Organic extract was obtained after fermentation of T. asperellum and its emulsion prepared by emulsification. The in vitro antimicrobial assays of organic extract and its emulsion were evaluated and the in situ tests were carried out on detached cocoa pods. T. asperellum inhibited the mycelia growth of P. megakarya at the rates of 52% and 100%, respectively, on dual culture and the cellophane plate. This antagonist produced lytic enzymes such as cellulase, amylase, lipase and protease. The organic extract contained alkaloid, flavonoid and phenol compounds. The emulsion obtained was stable. At 100 µg · ml-1, the extract and its formulation completely inhibited the mycelial growth of P. megakarya. Similarly, when infected detached cocoa pods were sprayed with extract or emulsion, there was a significant reduction of necrosis both for healing and prevention with the latter being the most efficient. For the preventive tests, the total inhibition was recorded at 3000 µg · ml-1 and 1000 µg · ml-1, respectively, with crude organic extract and its emulsion· For curative tests, total inhibition was obtained at 4000 µg · ml-1 and 3000 µg · ml-1, respectively, for preventive and curative tests. There was a significant and positive correlation between the content of biochemical markers and the reduction of necrosis on cocoa pods after treatment with the extract or its formulation. T. asperellum organic extract emulsion could be used as an alternative in the bio-protection of cocoa black pods disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agricultural Research in the Tropics / Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical is the property of Pesquisa Agropecuaria Tropical and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Padwick) is an important soil-borne disease and considered as most serious and widespread disease of chickpea throughout the world. Twenty indigenous isolates of Trichoderma spp. were isolated from the rhizosphere of chickpea in different geographic regions of Karnataka. Among twenty isolates, a higher concentration of volatile compounds was produced by TR-14 (72.22%) followed by TR-19 (66.67%) and TR-9 (65.93%). Further, the efficient strain that is TR-14 was identified as Trichoderma asperellum molecularly and was used to extract metabolites by using solvent extraction technique and subjected to GC-MS/MS analysis. The results have shown presence of twenty-nine compounds at different retention times ranging from 4.910 to 21.868 min. and the mass-tocharge (m/z) ratio from 43 to 190. Out of twenty-nine compounds, the concentration of 2-Imidazol-1-ylmethyl-pyridine 1-oxide (C9H9N3O) was highest with the maximum area (14375440) and retention time (19.842). Apart from this compound, 7-Isopropylidene-5-methyl-2, 3-diazabicyclo (2.2.1) hept-5-ene-2,3 dicarboxylic acid, diethyl ester was present at the highest peak with a retention time of 20.021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the initial development of paricá (Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum) seedlings under different nitrogen rates with the application of Trichoderma spp., using a randomized complete block design in a 4x5 factorial scheme (strains and rates) with seven replications. The evaluated traits were plant height, stem diameter, leaf and stem fresh weights, leaf and stem dry weights, and aerial part dry and fresh weights. Trichoderma spp. strains did not satisfactorily promote paricá seedlings (Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum) under high nitrogen rates. However, the Trichoderma harzianum IBLF 006 WP strain was efficient only under low nitrogen availability.

Managing organic agricultural wastes is a challenge in today's modern agriculture, where the production of different agricultural goods leads to the generation of large amounts of waste, for example, olive pomace and vine shoot in Mediterranean Europe. The discovery of a cost-effective and environment-friendly way to valorize such types of waste in Mediterranean Europe is encouraged by the European Union regulation. As an opportunity, organic agricultural waste could be used as culture media for solid-state fermentation (SSF) for fungal strains. This methodology represents a great opportunity to produce secondary metabolites like 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone (6-PP), a lactone compound with antifungal properties against phytopathogens, produced by Trichoderma spp. Therefore, to reach adequate yields of 6-PP, lytic enzymes, and spores, optimization using specific agricultural cheap local wastes from Southeastern France is in order. The present study was designed to show the applicability of an experimental admixture design to find the optimal formulation that favors the production of 6-PP. To conclude, the optimized formulation of 6-PP production by Trichoderma under SSF contains 18% wheat bran, 23% potato flakes, 20% olive pomace, 14% olive oil, 24% oatmeal, and 40% vine shoots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]