Trichoderma aureoviride URM 5158 and Trichoderma hamatum URM 6656 are Biocontrol Agents that act against Cassava Root rot through different Mechanisms

• Published in: Journal of phytopathology Vol. 164; no. 11-12; pp. 1003 - 1011
• Main Authors: da Silva, José Aldo Teixeira, de Medeiros, Erika Valente, da Silva, Jéssica Morais, Tenório, Dyana de A., Moreira, Keila Aparecida, Nascimento, Talita Camila Evaristo da Silva, Souza-Motta, Cristina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: antagonism; ascorbate peroxidase; chitinase; Fusarium solani; Manihot esculenta; peroxidase; plant resistance inducer; Solanum tuberosum; Trichoderma aureoviride; Trichoderma hamatum
• ISSN: 0931-1785; 1439-0434
• DOI: 10.1111/jph.12521

Trichoderma has been used to manage a large number of pathogens, but there is a gap in the mechanisms used by these biocontrol agents regarding the physiological response of cassava plants (Manihot esculenta) when it is subjected to cassava root rot. The aims of this study were to investigate the antagonist activity of ten Trichoderma isolates against Fusarium solani on potato dextrose Agar (PDA), to quantify the chitinase production, to select and test in vivo the best isolate from each experiment and to assess the physiological response of cassava to the production of oxidative enzyme complex production (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase). All Trichoderma isolates have shown competitive capability against F. solani, and Trichoderma hamatum URM 6656 showed the highest inhibition of pathogen growth (88.91%). All isolates have shown chitinase activity, but Trichoderma aureoviride URM 5158 produced the highest amount of chitinase. T. hamatum URM 6656 and T. aureoviride URM 5158 were selected to be applied in vivo. The two Trichoderma strains reduced 64 and 60% of the disease severity in the shoot and 82 and 84% in the root. Cassava plants infected with Trichoderma have shown the highest peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase production. Our results have indicated that T. aureoviride URM 5158 is an effective biocontrol agent against cassava root rot caused by F. solani, because it presented competitive antagonist capability in vitro, the highest chitinase production, and reduced the cassava root rot severity. The application of T. aureoviride has led to the maximum enzyme activity of reactive oxygen species group in cassava plants.