Antimicrobial and phytostimulatory properties of the fungal strain Trichoderma longibrachiatum

Abstract

antimicrobial activity; inhibition zone; metabolites; nutrient medium; phytopathogens; stimulation Food security is a fundamental problem worldwide. Ecological alternatives to pesticides and chemical fertilizers are microorganisms with a strong potential to produce compounds with high biological activity for agriculture. Trichoderma is the most promising microorganism for the development of sustainable agriculture due to their proven role as a biofertilizer and plant biological control agent. The T. longibrachiatum CNMN FD 27 strain, was used as the study object. Antifungal and antibacterial activities were tested on test cultures which cause losses for numerous agricultural crops, and the solution of exometabolites, were tested on sunflower seeds (length of the seedlings, dry mass of the seedlings and dry mass of the roots were evaluated). According to the present study T. longibrachiatum CNMN FD 27 provides essential activity against A. alternata and F. oxysporum. The obtained results had shown that, before sowing, the treatment of sunflower seeds with the aqueous solution of metabolites of the T. longibrachiatum strain (variant M 3) has a positive effect on the germination of the seeds, which constituted by 10% more than M 1 (H2O). The tested metabolites also had a positive effect on seedling growth, stimulating their length by 9.7% in comparison with M 1 variant. The dry mass of seedlings and roots per 100 seedlings from variant M 3 exceeded them by 31.2% in comparison with M 1. Metabolites of the fungal strain T. longibrachiatum, used in the treatment of sunflower seeds before sowing, can contribute to seed germination and stimulate the growth of the crop.