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Strawberry Fusarium wilt (SFW) is a systematic soil-borne disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragaria (Fof), which infects the vascular bundles, blocking water and nutrient transport from roots to the aboveground. It is a severe pathogen which spreads rapidly and destroys strawberry production. Finding a way to control this disease is of great scientific value and practical importance. In this study, three fungi were isolated from the vascular tissues of sick strawberries in the field. After DNA sequencing, they were identified as Fof, Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichoderma harzianum, respectively, among which the first two are pathogens and the third is a probiotic. All fungi were controlled by thiophanate-methyl (TM), a commercial fungicide. On PDA medium, 20 mg•L-1 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a natural non-protein amino acid, promoted T. harzianum proliferation, but inhibited Fof and A. fumigatus. In confrontation test, the growth of Fof or A. fumigatus was inhibited by T. harzianum and exogenous ALA promoted T. harzianum growth but significantly inhibited the pathogen growth. When three species of fungi were separately or combinedly inoculated on healthy strawberry plants, T. harzianum promoted plant growth and development while Fof or A. fumigatus caused growth retardation, where Fof directly caused leaf yellowing and plant wilting. When the plants inoculated with different fungus were treated with ALA, the results turned out that ALA alleviated SFW symptoms by bidirectionally promoting T. harzianum proliferation and inhibiting Fof and A. fumigatus. Thus, ALA might be used in comprehensively controlling SFW in strawberry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the biocontrol activity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by microorganisms. This study specifically focuses on the effects of VOCs produced by the co-culture of Burkholderia vietnamiensis B418 and Trichoderma harzianum T11-W for the control of two phytopathogenic fungi, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerium Owen. The antagonistic activity of VOCs released in mono- and co-culture modes was evaluated by inhibition assays on a Petri dish and in detached fruit experiments, with the co-culture demonstrating significantly higher inhibitory effects on the phytopathogens on both the plates and fruits compared with the mono-cultures. Metabolomic profiles of VOCs were conducted using the solid–liquid microextraction technique, revealing 341 compounds with significant changes in their production during the co-culture. Among these compounds, linalool, dimethyl trisulfide, dimethyl disulfide, geranylacetone, 2-phenylethanol, and acetophenone were identified as having strong antagonistic activity through a standard inhibition assay. These key compounds were found to be related to the improved inhibitory effect of the B418 and T11-W co-culture. Overall, the results suggest that VOCs produced by the co-culture of B. vietnamiensis B418 and T. harzianum T11-W possess great potential in biological control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi in the genus Trichoderma are widespread in the environment, mainly in soils. They are used in agriculture because of their mycoparasitic potential; Trichoderma have the ability to increase plant health and provide protection against phytopathogens, making them desirable plant symbionts. We isolated, identified, and characterized Trichoderma from different regions of Saudi Arabia and evaluated the ability of Trichoderma to promote plant growth. Morphological and molecular characterization, along with phylogenetic studies, were utilized to differentiate between Trichoderma species isolated from soil samples in the Abha and Riyadh regions, Saudi Arabia. Then, plant growth-promoting traits of the isolated Trichoderma species were assessed. Eight Trichoderma isolates were characterized via morphological and molecular analysis; six (Trichoderma koningiopsis, Trichoderma lixii, Trichoderma koningii, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma brevicompactum, and Trichoderma velutinum) were from Abha and two (T. lixii and T. harzianum) were from Riyadh. The isolated Trichoderma strains belonged to three different clades (Clade 1: Harzianum, Clade 2: Brevicompactum, and Clade 3: Viride). The Trichoderma isolates varied in plant growth-promoting traits. Seeds treated with most isolates exhibited a high percentage of germination, except seeds treated with the T3-T. koningii isolate. 100% germination was reported for seeds treated with the T4-T. harzianum and T6-T. brevicompactum isolates, while seeds treated with the T1-T. koniniopsis and T5-T. lixii isolates showed 91.1% and 90.9% germination, respectively. Seeds treated with the T8-T. velutinum, T2-T. lixii, and T7-T. harzianum isolates had germination rates of 84.1%, 82.2%, and 72.7%, respectively. The Trichoderma isolate T5-T. lixii stimulated tomato plant growth the most, followed by T7-T. harzianum, T8-T. velutinum, T4-T. harzianum, T1-T. koniniopsis, T2-T. lixii, and T6-T. brevicompactum; the least effective was T3-T. koningii. A maximum fresh weight of 669.33 mg was observed for the T5-T. lixii-treated plants. The Abha region had a higher diversity of Trichoderma species than the Riyadh region, and most isolated Trichoderma spp. promoted tomato growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hazardous synthetic dye wastes have become a growing threat to the environment and public health. Fungal enzymes are eco-friendly, compatible and cost-effective approach for diversity of applications. Therefore, this study aimed to screen, optimize fermentation conditions, and characterize laccase from fungal endophyte with elucidating its ability to decolorize several wastewater dyes. Results: A new fungal endophyte capable of laccase-producing was firstly isolated from cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica and identified as T. harzianum AUMC14897 using ITS-rRNA sequencing analysis. Furthermore, the response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to optimize several fermentation parameters that increase laccase production. The isolated laccase was purified to 13.79-fold. GFC, SDS-PAGE revealed laccase molecular weight at 72 kDa and zymogram analysis elucidated a single band without any isozymes. The peak activity of the pure laccase was detected at 50 °C, pH 4.5, with thermal stability up to 50 °C and half life span for 4 h even after 24 h retained 30% of its activity. The Km and Vmax values were 0.1 mM, 22.22 µmol/min and activation energy (Ea) equal to 5.71 kcal/mol. Furthermore, the purified laccase effectively decolorized various synthetic and real wastewater dyes. Conclusion: Subsequently, the new endophytic strain produces high laccase activity that possesses a unique characteristic, it could be an appealing candidate for both environmental and industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the emerging staple crops in Pakistan, with Punjab producing over 95% of the country's potatoes. Wilt is an emerging threat to the potato crop worldwide, including in Pakistan. We identified and characterized Fusarium species associated with potato wilt in Pakistan through morphological and molecular analyses. Samples were collected during the 2020–2022 potato seasons from five major potato-growing regions: Sahiwal, Chichawatni, Pakpattan, Kamalia, and Faisalabad. Morphological characterization, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing, specific translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis were used to identify six different Fusarium species: F. oxysporum, F. equiseti, F. incarnatum, F. fujikuroi, F. annulatum and F. thapsinum. Pathogenicity tests in a greenhouse revealed that F. oxysporum and F. equiseti were responsible for Fusarium wilt in all sampled regions, with F. oxysporum being more prevalent in wilted samples. This is the first report of F. equiseti on wilted potatoes in Pakistan. In vitro biocontrol tests using Trichoderma harzianum showed 89% inhibition against F. equiseti and 65% inhibition against F. oxysporum. These findings on F. equiseti will aid in developing future control strategies, including biocontrol measures for Fusarium wilt in potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous hyperexcitability of the neural network is the most well-known manifestation of epilepsy that causes recurrent seizures. The current study was aimed to examine any potential safety benefits of the culture filtrate of Trichoderma harzianum (ThCF) to ameliorate damaged histoarchitecture of the brain in epileptic rats by assessing seizure intensity scale and behavioral impairments and follow up the spontaneous motor seizures during status epilepticus phases in rats. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups; control (C), epileptic (EP) valproic acid-treated epileptic (EP-VPA), and epileptic treated with T. harzianum cultured filtrate (ThCF). In addition to a seizure intensity score and behavioral tests, routine H&E and Golgi-Copsch histopathology, were used to examine the cell somas, dendrites, axons, and neural spines. ThCF treatment increased activity and recorded movements during grooming, rearing, and ambulation frequency. Brain tissues of epileptic rats exhibited detached meninges, hypercellularity, mild edema in the cortex and markedly degenerated neurons, degenerated glial cells, and microcyst formation in the hippocampus. Moreover, brains of EP-ThCF were noticed with average blood vessels, and increased dendritogenesis. The current data revealed some of negative effects of epileptogenesis brought on by seizure intensity score and retarded histopathological alterations in the hippocampus. Therefore, the study is forecasting to identify novel active components from the metabolites of T. harzianum with a crucial therapeutic role in various disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing emergence of multi-drug resistant microbial strains has kept the scientific world searching for novel bioactive compounds with specific chemical characteristics. Accordingly, researchers have started exploring the understudied metabolites from endophytes as a new source of bioactive compounds. In this context, the current study was designed to evaluate the bioactive properties of endophytic fungi from the Mokrzański forest in Wrocław, Poland that have not yet been fully researched. Forty-three endophytic fungi were isolated from twelve distinct plants. Following their cultivation, fungal extracts were separately prepared from biomass and cell-free filtrates, and their antibacterial, antifungal (against human and plant pathogens), and antioxidant properties were examined. Five promising fungi after screening were identified to possess all of these activities. These strains and their respective plant hosts were Trichoderma harzianum BUK-T (Fagus sylvatica), Aspergillus ochraceus ROB-L1 (Robinia pseudoacacia), Chaetomium cochliodes KLON-L1, Fusarium tricinctum KLON-L2 (Acer platanoides), and Penicillium chrysogenum SOS-B2 (Pinus sylvestris). Moreover, gamma irradiation at several doses (Gy) was separately applied to the fungal cultures to study their effects on the recorded activities. Finally, compounds after preparative thin-layer chromatography fractionation of the five fungal strains were identified by GC-MS. These findings suggest that the isolated endophytic fungi could serve as novel sources of bioactive metabolites with antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, potentially paving the way for future research and the development of new bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane smut is the most important bottleneck in sugarcane production in Ethiopia. Previous management attempts couldn't protect the crop from smut sustainably. Therefore, experiments were conducted with the objective to assess the combined effect of varietal resistance, fungicide, and Trichoderma harzianum seed cane treatments on smut, cane, and sugar yields at Metehara and Wonji, Ethiopia. Thirty-six treatments were planted in a split plot design, with three varieties as main plots and twelve seed cane treatments as subplots in three replications. Consequently, untreated NCo-334 variety demonstrated greater smut intensity (incidence and severity), followed by untreated Mex 54-245 at Wonji in plant cane. Ratoon crops prevailed similar trends of infection except that Mex 54-245 treated with Apron, Triadimefon + Native Trichoderma harzianum (NT) and NT were unable to protect smut. Moreover, NCo-334 with all treatments at ratoon showed different levels of smut intensity at Wonji. On the other hand, greater mean smut intensity prevailed at Metehara than at Wonji. Overall, up to 30.75 and 29.80%, increase in cane and sugar yield respectively, could be achieved with seedcane treatments as compared to untreated control at the two locations. In general, the results of disease intensity, sugar yield, and economic analysis demonstrated that Opera and Opera + NT could be used as seedcane treatments after verification and demonstration for end users. The better protection against smut up to ratoon crop cycle, and economic return were the main reason to consider these treatments as candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suitably modified sesbania gum as a biodegradable functional biomaterials was very attractive in many applications. Therefore, a combination of cross‐linking, carboxymethylation, and oxidation was chosen to modify sesbania gum (SG) to expand its use. The experimental results indicated that cross‐linking could be completed not only on SG particles, but also between different SG particles. The cross‐linking decreased the number of surface hydroxyl groups on SG. The sedimentation volume decreased with the increase of phosphorus content of cross‐linked sesbania gum (CLSG). The structure of SG particles was severely disrupted by carboxymethylation and oxidation, while the structure was less affected by cross‐linking. The viscosities of SG and modified SG paste in acidic medium were less than those in neutral medium, while their viscosities in alkaline medium were more than those in neutral medium. Cross‐linking, carboxymethylation, and oxidation could ameliorate the retrogradation of SG, but decrease its swelling power, freeze–thaw stability, acid, and alkaline resistance. The aldehyde groups had good antibacterial activity against Trichoderma harzianum, whereas the carboxymethyl groups and phosphate ester groups showed poor antimicrobial activity against T. harzianum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To screen high active volatile organic compounds (VOCs)-producing Trichoderma isolates against strawberry gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea, and to explore their antagonistic mode of action against the pathogen. VOCs produced by nine Trichoderma isolates (Trichoderma atroviride T1 and T3; Trichoderma harzianum T2, T4 and T5; T6, T7, T8 and T9 identified as Trichoderma asperellum in this work) significantly inhibited the mycelial growth (13.9−63.0% reduction) and conidial germination (17.6−96.3% reduction) of B. cinerea, the highest inhibition percentage belonged to VOCs of T7; in a closed space, VOCs of T7 shared 76.9% and 100% biocontrol efficacy against gray mold on strawberry fruits and detached leaves, respectively, prolonged the fruit shelf-life by 3 days in presence of B. cinerea, completely protected the leaves from B. cinerea infecting; volatile metabolites of T7 damaged the cell membrane permeability and integrity of B. cinerea, thereby inhibiting the mycelial growth and conidial germination. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis revealed the VOCs contain 23 potential compounds, and the majority of these compounds were categorised as alkenes, alcohols, and esters, including PEA and 6PP, which have been reported as substances produced by Trichoderma spp. T. asperellum T7 showed high biofumigant activity against mycelial growth especially conidial germination of B. cinerea and thus protected strawberry fruits and leaves from gray mold, which acted by damaging the pathogen's plasma membrane and resulting in cytoplasm leakage, was a potential biofumigant for controlling pre- and post-harvest strawberry gray mold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is an economically important crop for animal and human nutrition. Currently, there is a lack of information on the effects of Trichoderma harzianum and Purpureocillum lilacinum on INTACTA RR PRO transgenic soybean plants. The present study evaluated the application of T. harzianum and P. lilacinum under field conditions. The results revealed a significant increase in soybean yield at 423 kg ha−1 in response to the application of P. lilacinum compared with the control treatment. In addition, the application of P. lilacinum promoted a significant increase in phosphorus levels in the plant leaves, and there were significant correlations between the increase in taxon abundance for the genus Erwinia and productivity and the average phosphorus and nitrogen content for the plant leaves, for the taxon Bacillus and nitrogen content and productivity, and for the taxon Sphingomonas and nitrogen content. The Bradyrhizobium taxon was identified in the P. lilacinum treatment as a taxon linking two different networks of taxa and is an important taxon in the microbiota. The results show that the application of the fungus P. lilacinum can increase the productivity of soybean INTACTA RR PRO and that this increase in productivity may be a function of the modulation of the microbiota composition of the plant leaves by the P. lilacinum effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic repercussions of Fusarium wilt on global tomato crops underscore the disease's paramount importance. And by employing non-toxic, environmentally friendly ingredients that align with sustainable practices and emphasize biosafety considerations, green synthesis, an emerging field in nanobiotechnology, presents financial and ecological benefits surpassing customary chemical and physical approaches. The main objective of the present investigation is to formulate chitosan nanomolecules laden with Trichoderma harzianum extract and characterize them. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the antifungal effectiveness of these chitosan nanomolecules towards Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici. Employing the ionic gelation technique and tripolyphosphate (TPP), chitosan nanomolecules laden with T. harzianum extract were synthesized. Subsequent characterization involved UV-vis, FTIR, AFM, SEM, XRD, and EDX techniques to demonstrate the effectiveness of the biochemical transformation. In addition, the antifungal efficacy of bio-manufactured chitosan nanomolecules has been assessed against five strongly virulent isolates from F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici. The study revealed the highest inhibition rates of growth for all isolates to be 100% at a 1 mg/ml concentration of CNPs. In contrast, the minimal inhibitory level rates at 0.125 mg/ml of CNPs were 32.75, 32.83, 32.85, 36.92, and 41.17%, consecutively. This investigation's findings have revealed a recently discovered biological pathway to biosynthesize chitosan nanomolecules in an environmentally friendly way by using T. harzianum. The confirmed antifungal efficacy of the synthesized CNPs towards F. oxysporum suggests their potential as alternatives to or reducers of widespread fungicide use, applicable across various technical and agricultural domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Barry is a soil-borne plant pathogen, capable of infecting more than 500 host plants worldwide. It is a major pathogen that plays a crucial role in reducing the yield of economically important crops. Sclerotinia rot also known as stem rot or white mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a serious disease of chickpea. Methods: The antagonistic potential of four bioagents i.e. Trichoderma harzianum (Th-BKN), Trichoderma viride (Tv-BKN), Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf-BKN) and Bacillus subtilis (Bs- BKN) were isolated from chickpea rhizospheric soil. The fungal bioagents were tested for their antagonistic potential against the pathogen in vitro by modified dual culture technique on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. While bacterial antagonists tested for their antagonistic potential against the pathogen in vitro by paper disc inoculation technique on Nutrient Agar (NA) and Pseudomonas Agar Fluorescens (PAF) media. Each treatment was replicated four times, incubated at 23±10°C, data on the antagonistic activity of different bioagents were recorded and per cent inhibition was calculated for each antagonist. Result: The fungal antagonists T. harzianum (Th-BKN) resulted in maximum growth inhibition of the pathogen (70.48%) and bacterial antagonists, Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf-BKN) (37.56%) was more effective than the Bacillus subtilis (Bs- BKN). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The use of benefic fungal species acting as plant growth promoters and defense inducers has been increasing in the last decades. Trichoderma fungi are among the most appreciated benefic fungi in agriculture. They colonize plant roots and activate systemic plant defenses against pests. Trichoderma may influence the physiology of the colonized plants; as a consequence, the behavior and the development of insects feeding on them may be affected. The main purpose of this present study was to investigate the effects of the inoculation of Trichoderma afroharzianum T22, a commercial fungal strain, on the population growth and behavior of the aphid Aphis gossypii and on the parasitism of its natural enemy Aphidius colemani, using zucchini as the model plant species. Our results show that the inoculation of T. afroharzianum T22 influences the behavior and the population growth of the aphid and its endoparasitoid. These results are discussed with regards to strategies for sustainable pest management. Fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma have received high consideration in agriculture due to their beneficial effects on crops from their plant promotion effects and protection from disease. A role of Trichoderma fungi in triggering plant defense mechanisms against insect pests, either directly or by natural enemy attraction, has been proposed, even if the results in different studies are controversial. In this present study, using zucchini plants as a model species, we investigated the effects of Trichoderma afroharzianum strain T22 plant inoculation on the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii and its endoparasitoid Aphidius colemani. Our results showed that the inoculation with T. afroharzianum T22 promotes A. gossypii population growth and makes zucchini more attractive to the aphid. The higher abundance of aphids on Trichoderma-inoculated zucchini was compensated for by a higher presence of the mummies of Aphidius colemani. In this present study, we recorded a higher zucchini biomass, thereby confirming that Trichoderma can act as a plant growth inducer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beneficial fungi of the genus Trichoderma are among the most widespread biocontrol agents that induce a plant's defense response against pathogens. Fusarium solani is one of the main pathogens that can negatively affect Astragalus mongholicus production and quality. To investigate the impact of Trichoderma harzianum on Astragalus mongholicus defense responses to Fusarium solani, A. mongholicus roots under T. harzianum + F. solani (T + F) treatment and F. solani (F) treatment were sampled and subjected to transcriptomic analysis. A differential expression analysis revealed that 6361 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) responded to T. harzianum induction. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of the 6361 DEGs revealed that the genes significantly clustered into resistance-related pathways, such as the plant–pathogen interaction pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, isoflavonoid biosynthesis pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and plant hormone signal transduction pathway. Pathway analysis revealed that the PR1, formononetin biosynthesis, biochanin A biosynthesis, and CHIB, ROS production, and HSP90 may be upregulated by T. harzianum and play important roles in disease resistance. Our study further revealed that the H2O2 content was significantly increased by T. harzianum induction. Formononetin and biochanin A had the potential to suppress F. solani. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed one module, including 58 DEGs associated with T. harzianum induction. One core hub gene, RPS25, was found to be upregulated by T. harzianum, SA (salicylic acid) and ETH (ethephon). Overall, our data indicate that T. harzianum can induce induced systemic resistance (ISR) and systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in A. mongholicus. The results of this study lay a foundation for a further understanding of the molecular mechanism by which T. harzianum induces resistance in A. mongholicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, solid-state fermentation (SSF) was applied to babassu mesocarp (BM) for the low-cost bioproduction of natural aroma compounds having Trichoderma harzianum (IOC 4042) and Geotrichum candidum (CCT 1205) as microbial agents. Fermentation was carried out using in natura babassu mesocarp (IN-BM) and defatted babassu mesocarp through soxhlet extraction (DEF-BM) as support, impregnated with hydration solutions of three and seven salts. The compounds produced were analyzed using solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Among several aroma compounds detected, 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6-PP)—GRAS 3696, coconut aroma; 2-phenylethanol (2-PE)—GRAS 2858, rose and honey aroma; and hexanal—GRAS 2557, green apple aroma, were the compounds that that were detected with the greatest intensity. The highest concentrations (ppm (w/w)) of 6-PP and 2-PE were obtained in DEF-BM using NS7SG (308.17 ± 3.18 and 414.53 ± 1.96), respectively, while for hexanal, the highest concentration (ppm (w/w)) was obtained in IN-BM using NS7SG (210.83 ± 2.14). The results indicate that producing aroma compounds by G. candidum and T. harzianum through BM SSF is viable, generating value-added compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in beans and potatoes in Sinaloa: Etiology, epidemiology, and management alternatives" describes the disease of white mold in bean and potato crops in Sinaloa. The symptoms and signs of the disease are detailed, as well as the cultural and morphological characteristics of the pathogen. The implementation of a prediction system for disease management is also addressed, which includes soil temperature and crop flowering. It is mentioned that the fungi Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride, and T. atroviride have been shown to be effective in controlling white mold in the field. New lines of research are proposed to improve disease management. [Extracted from the article]

Colletotrichum boninense is the main pathogenic fungus causing leaf spot disease in Sorghum sudangrass hybrids, which seriously impairs its quality and yield. In order to find an efficient and green means of control, this study used the agar disk diffusion method to screen for a fungicide with the strongest inhibitory effect on C. boninense from among several bacteria, fungi, and chemicals. Then, the changes in the plant's antioxidant system and metabolic levels after treatment were used to compare the three means of control. The lowest inhibitory concentration of Zalfexam was 10 mg/mL, at which point C. boninense did not grow, and the inhibition rates of Bacillus velezensis (X7) and Trichoderma harzianum were 33.87–51.85% and 77.86–80.56%, respectively. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and chitinase were up-regulated 2.43 and 1.24 folds in the Trichoderma harzianum group (M group) and SOD activity was up-regulated 2.2 folds in the Bacillus velezensis group (X7 group) compared to the control group (CK group). SOD, peroxidase (POD), and chitinase activities were elevated in the Zalfexam group (HX group). The differential metabolites in different treatment groups were mainly enriched in amino acid metabolism and production, flavonoid production, and lipid metabolism pathways. Compared with the diseased plants (ZB group), the M, X7, HX, and CK groups were co-enriched in the tryptophan metabolic pathway and glutamate–arginine metabolic pathway, and only the CK group showed a down-regulation of the metabolites in the two common pathways, while the metabolites of the common pathways were up-regulated in the M, X7, and HX groups. In addition, the salicylic acid–jasmonic acid pathway and ascorbic acid–glutathione, which were unique to the M group, played an important role in helping Sorghum sudangrass hybrids to acquire systemic resistance against stress. This study fills the gap in the control of Colletotrichum boninene, which causes leaf spot disease in Sorghum sudangrass hybrids. This paper represents the first reported case of biological control for leaf spot disease in Sorghum sudangrass hybrids and provides a reference for the control of leaf spot disease in Sorghum sudangrass hybrids as well as other crops infected with Colletotrichum boninense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study innovatively employed solid-state fermentation (SSF) to evaluate chitinase induction in Trichoderma harzianum. Solid-state fermentation minimizes water usage, a crucial global resource, and was applied using shrimp waste chitin and a mixture of commercial chitin with wheat bran as substrates. Shrimp waste and wheat bran were pretreated and characterized for SSF, and the fungus's utilization of the substrates was assessed using spectrophotometric and microscopic methods. The resulting enzymes' ability to produce chitooligosaccharides (COS) mixtures was studied. Wheat bran/commercial chitin demonstrated superior performance, with a 1.8-fold increase in chitinase activity (76.3 U/mg protein) compared to shrimp waste chitin (41.8 U/mg protein). Additionally, the COS mixture obtained from wheat bran/commercial chitin showed a higher concentration of reducing sugars, reaching 87.85 mM, compared to shrimp waste chitin (14.87 mM). The COS profile from wheat bran/commercial chitin included monomers to heptamers, while the profile from shrimp waste chitin was predominantly composed of monomers. These results highlight the advantages of SSF for chitinase induction and COS production in T. harzianum, offering potential applications as dietary fiber, antioxidants, and antimicrobial agents. The findings contribute to by-product valorization, waste reduction, and the sustainable generation of valuable products through SSF-based enzyme production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work intends to maximize the production of an industrially important novel esterase from Trichoderma harzianum using both machine learning and statistical approaches and its application in the bioremediation of dairy effluent. Significant medium compounds, such as almond oil, casein, NaH 2 PO 4 , and trace elements, were screened from a pool of carbon, nitrogen, oil and surfactant sources along with other micronutrients using a first order statistical design. The optimum value of screened parameters was found using response surface methodology that resulted in the maximum esterase production of 2985.31 U/L. Artificial neural network trained with the experimental response of RSM experiments coupled with genetic algorithm optimization technique has resulted in the maximum esterase production of 3256.73 U/L, which is 150-folds higher as compared to the unoptimized condition and also found to be the higher than the outcome of statistical optimization. Dairy effluent was used for the production of esterase as well as for its bioremediation. At 50% load, the maximum reduction in chemical oxygen demand and the production of esterase were observed to be 46.84% and 34.12 U/L, respectively. The COD reduction of diary effluent was modelled using Michaelis-Menten kinetics and the kinetic parameters, half saturation constant (K m) and maximum reaction rate (r max) value were evaluated as 286.88 mg/L and 26.04 mg/L/d, respectively. [Display omitted] • Almond oil, casein, NaH 2 PO 4 , and trace elements significantly influence esterase production. • Maximum esterase production of 3256.73 U/L achieved via RSM and ML optimization. • A 150-fold raise in esterase production as compared to unoptimized condition. • Maximum COD reduction (46.84%) and esterase production (34.12 U/L) in the diary effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of different soil amendments on the growth of Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) under water deficit stress conditions. The experiment was conducted using a factorial design with three replicates in 2022 in the research greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture of Lorestan University. Treatments included three levels of severe water deficit stress, mild water deficit stress, and no water stress, and eleven levels of compost enriched with various amendments (biochar, Trichoderma, Thiobacillus + sulfur, and chemical fertilizer NPK), as well as a control without compost. The results showed that the highest fresh and dry shoot and root, and plant height were observed in the compost enriched with all amendments under no stress conditions. The lowest values of these traits were found in the severe stress and no compost treatment. Ion leakage increased with stress, but the application of treatments reduced ion leakage. Water deficit stress decreased the RWC, with severe stress reducing it by 48.7% compared to the control. Treatments significantly increased the RWC compared to the control. The highest levels of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and the highest essential oil yield were observed in the compost enriched with all amendments under no stress conditions, while the lowest levels of these traits were observed in the control. Overall, compost enriched with organic, biological and chemical treatments can mitigate the adverse effects of water deficit stress on plants and they are beneficial in improving both quantitative and qualitative plant traits. Enrichment of chicken manure compost with the mentioned treatments can be introduced as a suitable pre-planting fertilizer to increase the yield of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, seed priming has gained interest, with researchers aiming to enhance seed germination and early growth, especially under abiotic stress conditions. In this study, seeds from two squash landraces (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne; i.e., Galaoui large seeds (Galaoui hereafter) and Batati green (Batati hereafter)) were subjected to different priming methods ((a) 0.3% and 0.4% KNO3 (halopriming); (b) 0.1% and 0.2% GA3 (hormopriming); (c) inoculation with Trichoderma spp. (T. harzianum, T. viride, and T. virens), Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas fluorescens (biopriming) in order to promote germination parameters and seedling growth under salinity stress (0, 100, and 200 mM of NaCl). Our findings indicate the better performance of primed seeds compared to the untreated ones in terms of germination and seedling growth traits, although a varied response depending on the priming method and the landrace was observed. The highest germination percentage (GP) and the lowest mean germination time (MGT) were observed in 0.4% KNO3-primed seeds. The positive effects of 0.4% KNO3 were also depicted in all traits related to seedling growth and the seedling vigor index (SVI), indicating its effectiveness as a priming agent in squash seeds. Under salinity stress conditions, priming with 0.4% KNO3 significantly improved the germination and seedling growth traits for both landraces, while the application of 0.2% GA3 at high salinity significantly improved photosynthetic quantum yield (Fv/Fm ratio). Regarding the effects of biopriming in germination and seedling growth traits, our results indicate that T. harzianum and B. subtilis were the most effective bioagents in promoting germination and seedling growth in Galaoui and Batati seeds, respectively. In conclusion, our findings provide important information regarding the practice of using priming and biopriming agents to enhance the germination and seedling growth capacity of squash seeds, as well to mitigate the negative effects of salinity stress at the critical stages of germination and early growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early blight (Alternaria solani) is one of important diseases in potato in Indonesia. In previous study, a microbial consortium (Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas sp.) suppressed the bacterial wilt disease in potato. For application, the microbial consortium was mixed with compost (10%). As the microbial consortium is originally intended for controlling soil-borne diseases, this study examined the ability of the microbial consortium to suppress early blight disease and the effects of application methods on its efficacy. The application methods examined were the methods that targeted for soil-borne as well as airborne diseases. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Department of Plants and Diseases, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia. The experiment used Randomized Complete Block Design with 10 treatments and three replications. The treatments included application of microbes mixed with compost in planting hole solely or in combination with soaking the potato tubers in suspension of the microbes, drenching water extract of the mixture at 2, 4, 6 weeks after planting (WAP) with or without foliar application of the water extract. The result showed that application method influenced the abilities of the microbial mixture in suppressing early blight disease and supporting the potato growth. Even though the application of microbe-compost in planting medium inhibited the development of early blight disease by 37.8-39.5%, the regular foliar spray of the water extract of the mixture enhanced the disease suppression. Combination between application of the microbe-compost in the planting hole, drenching its water extract at 2, 4, 6 WAP and weekly foliar spray of the water extract suppressed early blight disease by 80.8%. This combination of application methods also supported better plant height, numbers of potato leaflets, roots fresh weight and production of potato tuber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Phytophthora capsici is a destructive oomycete pathogen, causing huge economic losses for agricultural production. The genus Trichoderma represents one of the most extensively researched categories of biocontrol agents, encompassing a diverse array of effective strains. The commercial biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum strain T‐22 exhibits pronounced biocontrol effects against many plant pathogens, but its activity against P. capsici is not known. RESULTS: T. harzianum T‐22 significantly inhibited the growth of P. capsici mycelia and the culture filtrate of T‐22 induced lysis of P. capsici zoospores. Electron microscopic analyses indicated that T‐22 significantly modulated the ultrastructural composition of P. capsici, with a severe impact on the cell wall integrity. Dual RNA sequencing revealed multiple biological processes involved in the inhibition during the interaction between these two microorganisms. In particular, a marked upregulation of genes was identified in T. harzianum that are implicated in cell wall degradation or disruption. Concurrently, the presence of T. harzianum appeared to potentiate the susceptibility of P. capsici to cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors such as mandipropamid and dimethomorph. Further investigations showed that mandipropamid and dimethomorph could strongly inhibit the growth and development of P. capsici but had no impact on T. harzianum even at high concentrations, demonstrating the feasibility of combining T. harzianum and these cell wall synthesis inhibitors to combat P. capsici. CONCLUSION: These findings provided enhanced insights into the biocontrol mechanisms against P. capsici with T. harzianum and evidenced compatibility between specific biological and chemical control strategies. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical pesticides are synthetic substances created to manage plant pests. Frequent chemical usage causes extensive damage to crops and contributes to pest resistance, leading to environmental contamination, harm to non‐target organisms, the emergence of pesticide‐resistant species, and potential health hazards for humans. The aim of this study is to isolate, identify, and characterize biocontrol agents Trichoderma harzianum and evaluate their effects on various plant phytopathogens. T. harzianum biocontrol effects were tested against various fungal phytopathogens, including Sclerotium rolfsii, Alternaria sp., Pythium aphanidermatum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum, Helminthosporium sativum, and Aspergillus niger. The results clearly showed that, compared to the other Trichoderma species, TVK1 demonstrated the highest ability to suppress phytopathogens, with a growth inhibition rate of 2.48 cm per day. TVK2 grows at a rate of 1.96 cm per day, whereas TVK5 grows at a rate of 1.98 cm per day. The level of antifungal volatile organic compounds produced by TVK1 spores was higher against plant pathogens compared to the other species examined. This compound inhibits the growth of plant pathogens. T. harzianum can eliminate 100% of S. rolfsii pathogens and 100% of Alternaria sp. Pathogens were reduced by 92.02% for A. niger, 94% for F. oxysporum, 100% for P. aphanidermatum, 94.07% for H. sativum, and 100% for M. phaseolina. In a detached leaf assay, TVK1 inhibited the growth of pathogens in various plant leaves, including tomato, mustard, and eggplant, when compared to both the commercially available fungicide and the control. The study confirms that the isolate TVK1 can combat various phytopathogens. Early application of T. harzianum can reduce the risk of phytopathogenic attacks on leaves and promote plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational use of chemical fungicides in chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) for controlling Phytophthora capsici Leo. should include molecules that promote induced systemic resistance in the plant. The study objective was to assess how the application of fungicides, bio-controllers and resistance inducers affects bioactive compounds production and oxidative metabolism in pepper plants when inoculated with P. capsici zoospores. Statistical analyses show significant differences in total flavonoids, total phenols and salicylic acid concentrations in plants treated with Trichoderma harzianum, Acibenzolar-S-Methyl (ASM) and phosphonic acid. In addition, the application of ASM and Bacillus subtilis showed the highest values of antioxidant capacity. On the other hand, ASM application favoured increases in superoxide dismutase and phenyl ammonium lyase activity with values of 4.42 ± 0.016 (units · min−1 · g−1) and 3.90 ± 0.22 U · g−1, respectively. However, hydrogen peroxide production was similar to that of phosphonic acid treatments. Similarly, plants treated with B. subtilis and Metalaxyl-M showed increases in peroxidase enzyme activity with values ranging from 2.86 ± 0.05 to 4.52 ± 0.02 (μmol · [mg protein]−1 · min−1). Likewise, phosphonic acid-treated plants exhibited high catalase enzyme activity with values ranging from 2.38 ± 0.032 μmol H2O2 · min−1 · g−1 to 4.30 ± 0.024 μmol H2O2 · min−1 · g−1. The complementary use of products with biological and resistance-inducing functions could help to mitigate the environmental impacts that occur due to the use of chemical fungicides for controlling P. capsici on chilli pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus) waste, produced by distilling citronella to produce essential oil, has a high potential for use as animal feed. However, the presence of high lignin content could limit its digestibility, prompting the need for treatment to improve its quality. This study aimed to improve the nutritional value and in vitro digestibility of ammoniated and fermented citronella waste (CW). Materials and Methods: The treatments of CW included CW without treatment as a control (T0), ammoniation of CW with urea (T1), fermentation of CW with Trichoderma harzianum (T2), and a combination of ammoniation and fermentation (amofer) of CW (T3). This study employed a randomized block design with five replicates for each of the four treatments. If there was a significant effect (p < 0.05), a post hoc Duncan’s multiple range test was performed to analyze the variance of the data. Results: The process of ammoniation and fermentation led to a notable increase in crude protein (2%–6%) while decreasing crude fiber (2%–6%), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (5%–14%), acid detergent fiber (ADF) (5%–9%), lignin (4%–9%), and cellulose (2%–10%). The treatments enhanced the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter (OM), NH3, and total volatile fatty acid by 4%–12%, 6%–19%, 0.9–10 mM, and 35–142 mM, respectively. The decrease in NDF, ADF, acid detergent lignin (ADL), and cellulose fractions was accompanied by an improvement in dry matter and OM digestibility in CW. Ammoniated-fermented (amofer) CW, followed by fermentation with T. harzianum and ammoniated urea treatment, significantly enhanced the nutritional content and in vitro digestibility. The decrease in NDF, ADF, ADL, and cellulose fractions led to an improvement in dry matter and OM digestibility in CW. Conclusion: The application of amofer treatment with T. harzianum maximizes CW’s nutritional value and digestibility, making it the most efficient preservation method. Research is needed to explore the potential use of Aspergillus spp. and Pleurotus spp. for fermenting CW as ruminant fodder.

Aims: This study evaluated the impact of wheat straw return and microbial agent application on rice field environments. Methods: Using Rice variety Chuankangyou 2115 and a microbial mix of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum. Five treatments were tested: T1 (no straw return), T2 (straw return), T3, T4, and T5 (straw return with varying ratios of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum). Results: Results indicated significant improvements in rice root length, surface area, dry weight, soil nutrients, and enzyme activity across T2-T5 compared to T1, enhancing yield by 3.81-26.63%. T3 (50:50 microbial ratio) was optimal, further increasing root dry weight, soil enzyme activity, effective panicle and spikelet numbers, and yield. Dominant bacteria in T3 included MBNT15, Defluviicoccus, Rokubacteriales, and Latescibacterota. Higher Trichoderma harzianum proportions (75% in T5) increased straw decomposition but slightly inhibited root growth. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between yield and soil microorganisms like Gemmatimonadota and Firmicutes at the heading stage. Factors like dry root weight, straw decomposition rate postjointing stage, and elevated soil enzyme activity and nutrient content from tiller to jointing stage contributed to increased panicle and spikelet numbers, boosting yield. Conclusion: The optimal Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum ratio for straw return was 50:50, effectively improving soil health and synergizing high rice yield with efficient straw utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the biocontrol efficacy of three bacterial strains (Pseudomonas fluorescens DTPF-3, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DTBA-11, and Bacillus subtilis DTBS-5) and two fungal strains (Trichoderma harzianum Pusa-5SD and Aspergillus niger An-27) antagonists, along with their combinations at varying doses (5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 g/kg of seeds), against wheat powdery mildew. The most effective dose (10 g/kg seeds) was further analyzed for its impact on induced resistance and plant growth promotion under greenhouse conditions. The study measured defense enzyme activities, biochemical changes, and post-infection plant growth metrics. All tested microbial antagonists at 10 g/kg significantly reduced PM severity, with B. subtilis strain DTBS-5 outperforming others in reducing PM severity and achieving the highest biocontrol efficacy. It was followed by B. amyloliquefaciens strain DTBA-11 and P. fluorescens strain DTPF-3, with the fungal antagonists showing no significant effect. Wheat crops treated with B. subtilis strain DTBS-5 exhibited substantial increases in defense-related enzyme activities and biochemicals, suggesting an induced resistance mechanism. The study found a 45% increase in peroxidase (POD) activity, a 50% increase in catalase (CAT) activity, a 30% increase in phenolic content, and a 25% increase in soluble protein content in the wheat plants treated with microbial antagonists. The study highlights the effectiveness of microbial antagonists, particularly B. subtilis strain DTBS-5, in managing wheat PM through biocontrol, induced resistance, and enhanced plant growth, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was conducted from June to November, 2017 at Crop Research Center, Chirodi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (U.P.), India to assess the efficacy of six fungicides-propiconazole, strobin, flutolanil, copper oxychloride, azoxystrobin, flusilazol, and two bioagents viz., Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens-against false smut of rice under natural epiphytotic field conditions. Once panicle emergence reached 50%, each fungicide and bioagent was sprayed once. The findings of present investigation revealed that spray of propiconazole @ 0.1% reduced the false smut significantly and resulted in the lowest percentage of infected tillers (7.48%) and smutted grains (4.98%) along with maximum yield parameters like number of tillers (294), 10-ears weight (30.10 g), 1000-grain weight (24.50 g) and yield (4903 kg ha-1); it was followed by the spray application of either azoxystrobin @ 0.07% or strobin @ 0.06% with above respective parameters. Apart from the fungicides applied, the application of Trichoderma harzianum also reduced the false smut and increased the yield components significantly over the control plots. However, the lowest 10-ear weight (22.80 g), 1000-grain weight (17.50 g), and yield (3100 kg ha-1) along with the highest percentage of infected tillers (23.93%) and smutted grains (21.47%) were recorded in unprotected plots. Therefore, growers can be advised to use a foliar spray of one of three fungicides-propiconazole @ 0.1%, azoxystrobin @ 0.07%, or strobin @ 0.06%-at 50% panicle emergence stage to fungicidal control of false smut of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted during 2023 at Bioenergy Laboratory, Department of RBEE, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, CCSHAU, Hisar, Haryana, India. Compositional changes in sugarcane bagasse subjected to varying concentrations of sodium hydroxide (0.3% to 1.2%), revealing significant increases in glucan content (from 37.13% to 53.81%) alongside decreases in xylan, acidinsoluble lignin, acid-soluble lignin, ash, and other extractives. These changes were validated using microscopic technique SEM, confirming the efficacy of the pretreatment process. The utilization of a customized cellulase cocktail derived from Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride holds significant promise in enhancing the saccharification from alkali-pretreated sugarcane bagasse. This study investigates the synergistic effects of cellulase enzymes produced by these fungi on the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. The enzymatic hydrolysis process is optimized by varying enzyme dosages, reaction conditions, and incubation times to maximize the release of fermentable sugars. Results indicate a substantial improvement in saccharification efficiency with the customized cellulase cocktail, highlighting its potential for sustainable biofuel production. The pretreated sugarcane bagasse, when saccharified with Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride individually, released 254.43 mg g-1 and 325.53 mg g-1 of reducing sugars, respectively, after 40 h of incubation. In contrast, the combined enzymatic cocktail achieved a substantial increase in glucose yields (345.12 mg g-1) at 40 h, showcasing the synergistic effect of the combined enzymatic activity. This research contributes to advancing bioconversion technologies for utilizing lignocellulosic biomass resources efficiently and economically, thus addressing key challenges in sustainable energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of the secondary metabolites (SMs) produced by a co-culture of Trichoderma harzianum TW21990 and Burkholderia vietnamiensis B418 in the control of Colletotrichum siamense CM9. A fermentation filtrate of B418 + TW21990 co-culture (BT21) produced a notable increase in the inhibition rate of CM9 compared to those of TW21990 and B418 monocultures, which reached 91.40% and 80.46% on PDA plates and strawberry leaves, respectively. The BT21 fermentation broth exhibited high control efficiency on strawberry root rot of 68.95% in a pot experiment, which was higher than that in the monocultures and fluazinam treatment. In addition, BT21 treatment promoted strawberry root development, improved antioxidative enzyme activities in the leaves and roots, and enhanced the total chlorophyll content of the strawberry leaves. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis of fermentation filtrates was performed to elucidate SM variations, revealing 478 and 795 metabolites in BT21 co-culture in positive and negative ion modes, respectively. The metabolomic profiles suggested abundant SMs with antagonistic capabilities and growth-promoting effects: 3-(propan-2-yl)-octahydropyrrolo [1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione (cyclo(L-Pro-L-Val)), 3-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-octahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione (cyclo(L-Pro-L-Tyr)), 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA), 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA), bafilomycin B1, and DL-indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) were significantly enhanced in the co-culture. Overall, this study demonstrates that a co-culture strategy is efficient for inducing bioactive SMs in T. harzianum and B. vietnamiensis, which could be exploited as a novel approach for developing biocontrol consortia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichoderma spp. are filamentous fungi generally observed in nature, which are widely marketed as biocontrol agents. The secondary metabolites produced have obtained special attention since they possess attractive chemical structures with a broad spectrum of biological activities. In Cuba, the species of Trichoderma have been commercially applied for the control of several phytopathogens to protect agricultural crops, but few studies have been carried out to detect and characterize the production of metabolites with biological activity. The strain Trichoderma harzianum LBAT-53 was subjected to an antifungal in vitro assay against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense by dual culture and volatile metabolite assays and fermented in PDB under constant agitation conditions. The ethyl acetate crude extract was obtained by liquid–liquid extraction. The fungal extract was investigated for the composition of secondary metabolites through chemical screening and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) in negative ionization mode. As a result, LBAT-53 showed antagonistic activity in vitro (Class 2) against the pathogen evaluated in direct confrontation (76.9% of inhibition in 10 days) and by volatile metabolites (<40% in 7 days). Furthermore, seven low-molecular-weight phenolic compounds, including chrysophanol, phomarin, endocrocin, and trichophenol A, among others, were identified using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS. This study is the first work on the characterization of secondary metabolites produced by the commercially applied strain LBAT-53, which is a promising source of bioactive compounds. These results provide a better understanding of the metabolism of this fungus, which is widely used in Cuba as biopesticides in agriculture pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants can respond to insect egg deposition by emitting oviposition‐induced plant volatiles (OIPVs) recruiting parasitoids. The recruitment of carnivore insects in response to egg deposition is considered an indirect defence strategy that is widespread in the plant kingdom. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence showing that microbial colonization can influence the strength of plant responses to insect herbivory, yet no information is available on how beneficial microbes modulate indirect defences induced by insect egg deposition.In this work, we evaluated the effects of inoculation with the beneficial soil fungus Trichoderma harzianum strain T22 on a tritrophic system consisting of tomato, the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula and its associated egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis. We used Y‐tube olfactometer assays to evaluate the behavioural responses of the parasitoids to OIPVs emitted by plants colonized with beneficial soil microbes. We also used gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to investigate whether and how root inoculation with T. harzianum T22 affects the chemical composition of induced plant volatiles.In olfactometer assays, we found that root inoculation with T. harzianum T22 enhanced the attraction of the egg parasitoid towards tomato plants induced by N. viridula feeding and oviposition activities. In particular, the egg parasitoid preferred OIPVs emitted by tomato plants previously inoculated with T. harzianum T22 over OIPVs emitted by non‐inoculated plants. Furthermore, chemical analysis showed that root inoculation with T. harzianum T22 resulted in changes in the composition of OIPVs, which was consistent with the behavioural observations. Among the compounds that strongly contribute to the chemical differences between OIPVs from non‐inoculated and inoculated plants, chemical analysis identified green leaf volatiles ((Z)‐3‐hepten‐1‐ol, (E,E)‐2,4‐hexadienal), along with terpenoids (terpinen 4‐ol, α‐tujene and δ‐elemene).Taken together our results indicate that beneficial soil microbes enhance indirect plant defences induced by feeding and oviposition, broadening our understanding of plant responses to insect eggs. Our results underscore the importance of taking into account the role of microorganisms to fully comprehend the intricate interactions among plants, herbivore eggs and their associated egg parasitoids. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Commercial/chemical pesticides are available to control Fusarium wilt of chickpea, but these antifungals have numerous environmental and human health hazards. Amongst various organic alternatives, use of antagonistic fungi like Trichoderma, is the most promising option. Although, Trichoderma spp. are known to control Fusarium wilt in chickpea but there are no reports that indicate the biocontrol efficacy of indigenous Trichoderma spp. against the local pathogen, in relation to environmental conditions. Methods: In the present study, biological control activity of Trichoderma species formulations viz., Trichoderma asperellum, Trichoderma harzianum (strain 1), and Trichoderma harzianum (strain 2), either singly or in the form of consortia, was investigated against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris, the cause of Fusarium wilt in chickpea, in multiyear pot trials under open field conditions. The antagonistic effect of Trichoderma spp. was first evaluated in in vitro dual culture experiments. Then the effects of Trichoderma as well as F. oxysporum, were investigated on the morphological parameters, disease incidence (DI), and disease severity (DS) of chickpea plants grown in pots. Results: In dual culture experiments, all the Trichoderma species effectively reduced the mycelial growth of F. oxysporum. T. asperellum, T. harzianum (strain 1), and T. harzianum(strain 2) declined the mycelial growth of F. oxysporumby 37.6%, 40%, and 42%. In open field pot trials, the infestation of F. oxysporum in chickpea plants significantly reduced the morphological growth of chickpea. However, the application of T. asperellum, T. harzianum (strain 1), and T. harzianum (strain 2), either singly or in the form of consortia, significantly overcome the deleterious effects of the pathogen, thereby resulted in lower DI (22.2% and 11.1%) and DS (86% and 92%), and ultimately improved the shoot length, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight by 69% and 72%, 67% and 73%, 68% and 75%, during the years 1 and 2, respectively, in comparison with infested control. The present study concludes the usefulness and efficacy of Trichoderma species in controlling wilt disease of chickpea plants under variable weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root rot is a destructive soil-borne disease of Coptis chinensis, which depends on chemical control at present, and more attention should be paid to biocontrol of disease. In the present research, isolate Y9 isolated from healthy root samples of Coptis, was identified as Bacillus cereus. Further screening and pot experiments showed that B. cereus isolate Y9 inhibited the growth of the main causal agents of coptis root rot disease (Fusarium solani and F. avenaceum) and seven other phytopathogenic fungi. The application of B. cereus isolate Y9 and compatible Trichoderma harzianum, T. atroviride and B. amyloliquefaciens, singly and in combination were found to be effective against Fusarium root rot in vitro and in field experiments. In field experiments, combinations of T. harzianum + B. amyloliquefaciens + Y9 (HYJ, in ratio of 1:1:1) showed the highest control efficacy of 63.85%, which was higher than the expected value (53.18%), indicating synergistic effect on the control of coptis root rot. Therefore, B. cereus isolate Y9 may be a potential biological control agent, and combined use with T. harzianum and B. amyloquefaciens offered even greater potential. The long-term effects of isolate B. cereus Y9 and its combinations on C. chinensis should be assessed in different locations and seasons in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem rot of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) caused by Scelrotium rolfsii is the main threat to groundnut production, causing significant economic losses. The present study aims to provide an overview of the potentiality of Trichoderma viride (Tv), Trichoderma harzianum (Th), Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf), and Bacillus subtilis (Bs), applied either individually or in mixed combination, against Sclerotium rolfsii (isolate SrBKN). The treatment with T. harzianum and P. fluorescens resulted in the highest mycelial growth inhibition (79.61, 83.51, and 86.77%), followed by T. viride and P. fluorescens (75.74, 79.63, and 83.14%). Under in vitro conditions, the combination of bio-agents at 5% culture filtrate proved to be superior against the test pathogen. Seed treatment and soil application of T. harzianum and Pf at 10 (5 + 5) g kg−1 + 10 (5 + 5) kg ha−1, followed by seed treatment and soil application of T. viride and Pf at 10 (5 + 5) g kg−1 + 10 (5 + 5) kg ha−1, resulted in the lowest disease incidence (7.40 and 8.0%), highest disease control (69.37 and 66.88%), maximum dry weight (151 and 147 g plant−1), highest increase in dry weight (75.58 and 70.93), highest pod yield (2665 and 2498 kg ha−1), and highest increase in pod yield (96.38 and 84.08%) under in vivo conditions. We present an effective bio-control-based management module from the lab to the field for the successful control of groundnut stem rot caused by S. rolfsii. Based on the results, it is concluded that the dual formulation of T. harzianum and P. fluorescens, followed by T. viride and P. fluorescens, were the most effective BCAs in suppressing the S. rolfsii. Therefore, an integrated disease management module with these BCAs needs to be developed and validated with a farmers' participatory mode under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an essential food staple and source of income for small-holder farmers across Africa. However, yields are greatly threatened by fungal diseases like root rot induced by Rhizoctonia solani. This study aimed to evaluate an integrated approach utilizing vermicompost tea (VCT) and antagonistic microbes for effective and sustainable management of R. solani root rot in common beans. Fourteen fungal strains were first isolated from infected common bean plants collected across three Egyptian governorates, with R. solani being the most virulent isolate with 50% dominance. Subsequently, the antagonistic potential of vermicompost tea (VCT), Serratia sp., and Trichoderma sp. was assessed against this destructive pathogen. Combinations of 10% VCT and the biocontrol agent isolates displayed potent inhibition of R. solani growth in vitro, prompting in planta testing. Under greenhouse conditions, integrated applications of 5 or 10% VCT with Serratia marcescens, Trichoderma harzianum, or effective microorganisms (EM1) afforded up to 95% protection against pre- and post-emergence damping-off induced by R. solani in common bean cv. Giza 6. Similarly, under field conditions, combining VCT with EM1 (VCT + EM1) or Trichoderma harzianum (VCT + Trichoderma harzianum) substantially suppressed disease severity by 65.6% and 64.34%, respectively, relative to untreated plants. These treatments also elicited defense enzyme activity and distinctly improved growth parameters including 136.68% and 132.49% increases in pod weight per plant over control plants. GC–MS profiling of Trichoderma harzianum, Serratia marcescens, and vermicompost tea (VCT) extracts revealed unique compounds dominated by cyclic pregnane, fatty acid methyl esters, linoleic acid derivatives, and free fatty acids like oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids with confirmed biocontrol and plant growth-promoting activities. The results verify VCT-mediated delivery of synergistic microbial consortia as a sustainable platform for integrated management of debilitating soil-borne diseases, enhancing productivity and incomes for smallholder bean farmers through regeneration of soil health. Further large-scale validation can pave the adoption of this climate-resilient approach for securing food and nutrition security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the significant challenges in organic cultivation of edible mushrooms is the control of invasive Trichoderma species that can hinder the mushroom production and lead to economic losses. Here, we present a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay coupled with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for rapid colorimetric detection of Trichoderma spp. The specificity of LAMP primers designed on the tef1 gene was validated in silico and through gel-electrophoresis on Trichoderma harzianum and non-target soil-borne fungal and bacterial strains. LAMP amplification of genomic DNA templates was performed at 65 °C for only 30 min. The results were rapidly visualized in a microplate format within less than 5 min. The assay is based on salt-induced aggregation of AuNPs that is being prevented by the amplicons produced in case of positive LAMP reaction. As the solution color changes from red to violet upon nanoparticle aggregation can be observed with the naked eye, the developed LAMP-AuNPs assay can be easily operated to provide a simple initial screening for the rapid detection of Trichoderma in button mushroom cultivation substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato wilt is a significant yield-reducing disease in tomato crops, caused primarily by Fusarium species, including Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium equiseti. These wiltcausing fungal pathogens can persist in soil for up to 10 years, severely impacting crop health and yield, resulting in substantial economic losses for farmers. The objective of this study is to develop eco-friendly control methods for managing tomato wilt disease. In this study, fungal pathogens associated with tomato wilt were isolated from different parts of infected plants and identified based on their morphological and microscopic characteristics. Management strategies were evaluated using various treatments, including acidic soil, alkaline soil, neutral soil, chemical control, biocontrol and vermicompost, both individually and in combination. Soil acidity was adjusted using humic acid, alkalinity with poultry manure, and neutrality was maintained with water. For chemical control, Carbendazim was employed, and Trichoderma harzianum was utilized for biocontrol. The experiment comprised 21 treatments, each with three replications, including a control group with three replications. The study was conducted in pots using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Seven parameters were noted; number of flowers, number of fruits, plant shoot length (cm), total number of branches, total number of leaves, yellowing and drying of leaves, and wilting %. Recorded data were statistically analyzed. The treatments T17 (Carbendazim + Vermicompost), T7, T13, T4, T8, T9, T19, T21, T20, T18, T15, T10, T12, T14, T16, T11, T5, T6, T2, T1, and T3 reduced wilting by 84, 82, 81, 80, 80, 79, 79, 78, 78, 74, 74, 74, 73, 73, 72, 71, 70, 69, 64, 60, and 51%, respectively. All treatments promoted plant growth. The reduction in wilting observed in T17-treated plants and all other treatments was significantly greater than that in the control and T3 (Water) treated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress (DS) is one of the main environmental stresses that determines crop productivity. It has been estimated that DS depresses over 40%–60% of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production worldwide, respectively. Although different agronomic strategies are sometimes implemented, the current goal in sustainable agriculture could involve the inoculation with native microorganisms to mitigate DS effects. A potential fungal candidate is Trichoderma, which is recognized as a ubiquitous soil inhabitant with growth‐promoting and biocontrol potentiality. However, its potential for mitigating the stress for water deficit is less well‐documented. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of inoculation with native Trichoderma harzianum strains on soybean and common bean growth under contrasting conditions of water availability. Seeds were independently inoculated (or not) with IB‐J15 and IB‐363 strains, and plants were submitted to DS or were kept under optimal irrigation (well‐watered, WW). In both legumes, the most evident effect after being inoculated was the modification of plant root architecture, the increase in root area and the development of lateral roots in plants under WW and DS conditions. In soybean, both Trichoderma strains had a positive inoculation response, both fresh and dry root biomass increased under WW, and remarkably under DS conditions. The main effect was an increase of about 110% in root dry weight under WW and, about 330% in DS in plants inoculated with IB‐J15 strain, meanwhile, plants inoculated with IB‐363 increased root dry weight 60% in WW and 177% in DS conditions. Notably in soybean, the inoculation with both Trichoderma strains increased the root area more than 70% in both WW and DS conditions. Common beans inoculated with IB‐363 under WW conditions, reached a positive inoculation responsiveness of around 247% in shoot dry weight biomass, and under WW both strains increased the root area more than 50%. Further, IB‐363 increased leaf area by 25% in WW and 72% in DS. Additionally, the in vitro co‐culture between both Trichoderma strains and nodulating Rhizobium etli and Bradyrhizobium japonicum E109 showed compatibility between microorganisms, since no inhibition of their growth was observed. We emphasize that plants inoculated with Trichoderma showed better resistance to water deficit, as seen by redistribution of photosynthates, prioritizing mainly, the development of the root system. © 2024 Association of Applied Biologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of Trichoderma harzianum MVT801 combined with different ratios of nutrient solution (NR) (25%, 50%, and 100%) on the growth and physiological traits of Lactuca sativa "Lollo Rosso" plants cultivated in floating systems. Inoculation of lettuce plants with T. harzianum MVT801 (T1) in a floating system improves biometric properties, photosynthetic parameters, and nutrient uptake compared with uninoculated treatment (T0). The results clearly showed that in T1, despite a 50% reduction in the ratio of nutrient solution, no significant difference was observed in the growth and photosynthesis characteristics and nutrient uptake in L. sativa "Lollo Rosso" leaves compared with a complete nutrient solution treatment (100%), which is one of the notable results of this study. In this regard, the highest yield was observed in T1NR50 (inoculated with fungi and 50% of the nutrient solution) and T1NR100 (inoculated with fungi and complete nutrient solution) treatments. Also, the highest concentrations of phosphorus and potassium in "Lollo Rosso" leaves were observed in T1NR50 and T1NR100 treatments. Accordingly, the use of T. harzianum in floating lettuce cultivation could be recommended to increase crop productivity and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpeas contribute to half of the pulses produced in India and are an excellent source of protein, fibers, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. However, the combination of the wilt and root rot diseases drastically lowers its yield. The use of antagonist microbes that restrict the growth of other phytopathogens is an ecofriendly approach to combat the serious threats raised by the plant pathogens. Trichoderma spp. are well known as biocontrol agents, especially against soil- and seed-borne phytopathogens. In this study, 21 Trichoderma isolates that were collected from different rhizospheric soils were evaluated against two notorious soil-borne pathogens, such as Fusarium oxysproum f.sp. ciceri and Sclerotium rolfsii. The maximum percentage of inhibition against the tested pathogens was observed in Trichoderma isolate PBT13 (72.97%, 61.1%) followed by PBT3 (72.23%, 59.3%). The mycelial extension rate method, dual culture (antagonism), production of cell-wall degrading enzymes (CWDs), and antifungal metabolites (by GC-MS) were used as selection criteria for potent Trichoderma isolates. Among the 21 isolates, PBT3, PBT4, PBT9, and PBT13 exhibited high antagonistic activity, production of antifungal metabolites, and chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activity. These four species were subjected to molecular characterization using an internal transcribed spacer (ITS 1 and ITS4). The results of molecular characterization identified the four species as T. virnes, T. asperellum, T. lixii, and T. harzianum. Moreover, significant chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities of all Trichoderma isolates were recorded in the growth medium. Trichoderma harzianum (isolate PBT13) was found to exhibit the highest chitinase activity in terms of zone formation (4.40 ± 0.17 cm), whereas Trichoderma virens (isolate PBT3) exhibited the highest β-1,3-glucanase activity1.511 μmole/min. A GC-MS analysis of ethyl extracts from two isolates of Trichoderma (PBT9, PBT13) revealed the presence of 28 VOCs. Overall, this study suggests that these four Trichoderma strains are promising biological control agents (BCAs) and could be developed as bio-pesticides after stringent field trials for the management of soil-borne diseases of chickpeas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the compatibility of hydrosols from aromatic plants on the growth of T. harzianum. Design/Methodology/Approach: All hydrosols of Foeniculum vulgare, Plectranthus coleoides, Tagetes arenicola, T. coronopifolia, T. erecta, and T. lucida were evaluated in vitro on the mycelium Trichoderma harzianum. Their growth rates and inhibition percentages were recorded. T. harzianum was inoculated in 50 g of sterilized corn cob enriched with F. vulgare hydrosol (3, 5 and 7%), this mixture was incubated at 28 ± 2 °C; spore counting, and viability tests were performed on PDA medium. The Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05) was used for mean comparisons. Results: All hydrosols inhibited in vitro the mycelial growth of T. harzianum at 100%, but at 5% concentration, some hydrosols promoted the growth of the fungus more than the control. The concentration of F. vulgare hydrosol influenced the production and viability of T. harzianum spores in the cob substrate. Study Limitations/Implications: This study provides information on the use of hydrosol, which are typically considered waste products. Findings/Conclusions: At low concentration, F. vulgare hydrosol can be used to enrich corn cob and promote the growth of T. harzianum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beet curly top disease is one of the most important viral diseases that causes economic damage to the yield of beet crops. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of treating the Paya cultivar of sugar beet with Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma harzianum, and Beta-aminobutyric acid (BABA), alone and in combination, on the growth and reaction of sugar beet to Beet curly top virus-Svr (BCTV-Svr). Anthocyanin concentration, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity were measured by spectrophotometry 14 days post-inoculation (dpi). At thirty dpi, virus accumulation was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and physiological parameters in plants were assessed. The experiments were performed in a factorial, completely randomized design. The first symptoms of BCTV-Svr were observed at nine dpi in the control plants, while the symptoms appeared at 19 dpi in plants treated with B. subtilis, and between 12 and 14 dpi in the other treatments. Plants treated with B. subtilis and BABA showed the lowest and highest severity of the disease, respectively. The results of qPCR were consistent with the symptom severity results, and showed a significant difference in BCTV-Svr accumulation among the treatments. The highest level of anthocyanin concentration was observed in the B. subtilis treatment. On the other hand, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity was increased using viral stress treatments at 14 dpi. The analyses showed that, in general, B. subtilis was more effective in inducing anthocyanin and enzyme activity in healthy and infected plants than the other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes white mold disease, resulting in losses of up to 50% in several host plants worldwide. It is a harmful fungus as it infects plants at any stage of development, in the field, or in storage; this includes young seedlings, mature plants, and fruits. The accessibility of molecular and biological methods has contributed significantly to our understanding of S. sclerotiorum etiology and progression. The present research aimed to characterize S. sclerotiorum causing white mold disease in eggplant (S. melobgena), evaluate the potentiality of some bio-agents for inhibiting the fungus growth and develop a strategy for dealing with the disease challenge. Eggplants grown in open fields and greenhouses showed cottony growth on their stems, followed by the emergence of sclerotia. A fungal growth with fluffy mycelium and considerable sclerotia was isolated from the infected tissues. Polyphasic characterization and phytopathological analysis identified the fungus as S. sclerotiorum. The symptoms previously seen in the field were reproduced by inoculating healthy eggplant roots, stems, and leaves with the fungus. The ITS rDNA sequencing (564 bp) homology and phylogenetic analysis showed 99% sequence similarity of the isolate with multiple S. sclerotiorum. A wide range of strategies are required for disease management. S. sclerotiorum is sensitive to competition from other bacteria. Such a technique might act as an initial basis for effective biological control of white mold. The results demonstrated that eight isolates have very strong antagonistic activity against S. sclerotiorum. Reduced rates ranged from 63.1% (65 D) to 39.0.1% (75 A1). At the same time, the effect of the Trichoderma harzianum fungus against the pathogen S. sclerotium was apparent in restricting mycelium growth and inhibiting the fungus growth. ITS sequencing identified the mycopathogen. The interaction of seven Bacillus spp isolates with S. sclerotiorum on PDA culture media highlighted these isolates' capacity to limit the pathogen's mycelial growth. Furthermore, the antimicrobial agent must remain in the same environment for an extended period while also being active against the pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the hybrid enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of Prosopis juliflora pods (Pj pods) for the enhanced biohydrogen production from the activated anaerobic sludge through the waste to energy approach (WtE). The pretreatment effect of sulfuric acid, citric acid, sodium hydroxide, and ammonia has been studied on the Pj pods to make cellulose more accessible for enzyme hydrolysis. The sulfuric acid pretreatment obtained the maximum glucose, 193.19 mg/g BM. The cellulolytic enzyme cocktail comprising cellulase, 80 IU/g, and xylanase, 234.58 IU/g from the newly isolated Trichoderma harzianum BPGF1, is used to hydrolyze the sulfuric acid-treated Pj pods. After the separate enzymatic hydrolysis, the acid-treated Pj pods produced 342.51 mg/g BM glucose. The hybrid enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of Pj pods with activated anaerobic sludge was optimized using the central composite design (CCD). The microbial consortium in the anaerobic sludge was identified by next-generation sequencing (NGS) through metagenomic analysis, and the hydrogen was analyzed by gas chromatography. The maximum biohydrogen yield of 1552.25 ± 53.61 mM/L was achieved in the medium containing Pj pods, 13.6% w/v, vitamin solutions, 1.44% v/v, cellulase, 62.74 IU/g BM, and inoculum, 8.67% v/v at an initial pH of 6.49 under anaerobic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Conidiospores of Trichoderma harzianum can be applied as biocontrols for plant diseases, which are eco-friendly and safe for human health. The best model obtained in this work is used to find the optimal conditions to produce the maximum number of conidiospores. An alternative to facing plagues without affecting ecosystems is the use of biocontrols that keep crops free of harmful organisms. There are some studies showing the use of conidiospores of Trichoderma harzianum as a medium for the biological control of plagues. To find the optimal parameters to maximize the production of conidiospores of Trichoderma harzianum in barley straw, this process is modeled in this work through artificial neural networks and response surface modeling. The data used in this modeling include the amount of conidiospores in grams per milliliter, the culture time from 48 to 136 h in intervals of 8 h, and humidity percentages of 70%, 75%, and 80%. The surface response model presents R2 = 0.8284 and an RMSE of 4.6481. On the other hand, the artificial neural network with the best performance shows R2 = 0.9952 and RMSE = 0.7725. The modeling through both methodologies can represent the behavior of the Trichoderma harzianum conidiospores growth in barley straw, showing that the artificial neural network has better goodness of fit than the response surface methodology, and it can be used for obtaining the optimal values for producing conidiospores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub.) (2n=14) is an indigenous, self-pollinated, drought tolerant legume crop. This crop has recently gained the status of industrial crop due to the high galactomannan content in the endosperm of its seed. This crop is vulnerable to bacterial leaf blight as one of the most destructive diseases of cluster bean caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. cyamopsidis and confines cluster bean productivity in all growing regions. Biological control is an ecological-friendly approach to suppress the growth of phytopathogens. In this study, four bioagents viz. Bacillus subtilis, Providencia sp., Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma harzianum were evaluated against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. cyamopsidis in vitro condition. Providencia sp. showed maximum antibacterial activity with 14.12 per cent zone inhibition followed by Bacillus subtilis (12.13%). The fungal antagonists viz. Trichoderma viride (7.11%) and Trichoderma harzianum (5.95%), were found least effective against the tested pathogen. Providencia sp.@ 25 per cent w/v reduce disease incidence of 50 per cent under screen house conditions followed by Bacillus subtilis (35.71%). Among the treatments, the lowest disease reduction and highest per cent disease incidence was observed in treatment with Trichoderma harzianum (7.14). Therefore, bioagents can be used as a sustainable tool for management of plant diseases towards sustainable agriculture [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]