Effect of Trichoderma asperellum application on growth and total phenolic content in soybean seedlings Available to Purchase

Trichoderma are well known as biological control agents to inhibit various plant pathogens. These fungi also promote growth on cultivated plants by producing plant hormones. A study was conducted to investigate effects of Trichoderma asperellum on growth performance and phenolic content in soybean. Ten isolates of T. asperellum were applied on soybean seeds. The numbers of normal seedlings were not influenced by eight isolates of T. asperellum. Six isolates triggered plant height (14.5–15.5 cm) compared to that of control (13.2 cm). Root length and fresh root weight as well as plant biomass weight were also influenced by T. asperellum applications. Only fresh shoot weight parameter was not influenced by these treatments. Four T. asperellum isolates (T.a8, T.a3, T.a5, T.a4) increased root length from 24.2% to 37.4%. Fresh root weight also increased on T. asperellum T.a8, T.a3, T.a5, T.a4 treatments. Fresh biomass increased about one third (2.2 – 2.4 g) on soybean treated with T. asperellum T.a9, T.a7, T.a8, T.a1 compared to that of control (1.7 g). Significantincrease of total phenolic content were observed in two isolates of T. asperellum T.a1 (16.7%) and T.a6 (20.0%). The isolates of T. asperellum T.a4 and T.a8 supported plant height, root length and increased fresh root weight, plant biomass, and phenolic content. Therefore, these isolates were promising to be used as bio-stimulant on soybean.