Potential of melatonin and Trichoderma harzianum inoculation in ameliorating salt toxicity in watermelon: Insights into antioxidant system, leaf ultrastructure, and gene regulation

Melatonin (MT) is an extensively studied biomolecule with dual functions, serving as an antioxidant and a signaling molecule. Trichoderma Harzianum (TH) is widely recognized for its effectiveness as a biocontrol agent against many plant pathogens. However, the interplay between seed priming and MT (150 μm) in response to NaCl (100 mM) and its interaction with TH have rarely been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of MT and TH, alone and in combination, to mitigate salt stress (SS) in watermelon plants. The findings of this study revealed a significant decline in the morphological, physiological, and biochemical indices of watermelon seedlings exposed to SS. However, MT and TH treatments reduced the negative impact of salt stress. The combined application of MT and TH exerted a remarkable positive effect by increasing the growth, photosynthetic and gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence indices, and ion balance (decreasing Na+ and enhancing K+). MT and TH effectively alleviated oxidative injury by inhibiting hydrogen peroxide formation in saline and non-saline environments, as established by reduced lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage. Moreover, oxidative injury induced by SS on the cells was significantly mitigated by regulation of the antioxidant system, AsA-GSH-related enzymes, the glyoxalase system, augmentation of osmolytes, and activation of several genes involved in the defense system. Additionally, the reduction in oxidative damage was examined by chloroplast integrity via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Overall, the results of this study provide a promising contribution of MT and TH in safeguarding the watermelon crop from oxidative damage induced by salt stress.

Dual RNA sequencing during Trichoderma harzianum-Phytophthora capsici interaction reveals multiple biological processes involved in the inhibition and highlights the cell wall as a potential target

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.

Enhancing phytoremediation of cadmium and arsenic in alkaline soil by Miscanthus sinensis: A study on the synergistic effect of endophytic fungi and biochar

Endophytic fungi (Trichoderma harzianum (TH) and Paecilomyces lilacinus (PL)) showed potential in phytoremediation for soils contaminated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs (Cd and As)). However, their efficiency is limited, which can be enhanced with the assistance of biochar. This study sought to investigate the effects of TH at two application rates (T1: 4.5 g m-2; T2: 9 g m-2), PL at two application rates (P1: 4.5 g m-2; P2: 9 g m-2), in conjunction with biochar (BC) at 750 g m-2 on the phytoremediation of PTEs by Miscanthus sinensis (M. sinensis). The results showed that the integration of endophytic fungi with biochar notably enhanced the accumulation of Cd and As in M. sinensis by 59.60 %-114.38 % and 49.91 %-134.60 %, respectively. The treatments T2BC and P2BC emerged as the most effective. Specifically, the P2BC treatment significantly enhanced the soil quality index (SQI > 0.55) across all examined soil layers, markedly improving the overall soil condition. It was observed that T2BC treatment could elevate the SQI to 0.56 at the 0-15 cm depth. The combined amendment shifted the primary influences on plant PTEs accumulation from fungal diversity and soil nutrients to bacterial diversity and the availability of soil PTEs. Characteristic microorganisms identified under the combined treatments were RB41 and Pezizaceae, indicating an increase in both bacterial and fungal diversity. This combination altered the soil microbial community, influencing key metabolic pathways. The combined application of PL and biochar was superior to the TH and biochar combination for the phytoremediation of M. sinensis. This approach not only enhanced the phytoremediation potential but also positively impacted soil health and microbial community, suggesting that the synergistic use of endophytic fungi and biochar is an effective strategy for improving the condition of alkaline soils contaminated with PTEs.

Demonstration of the synergistic effect of biochar and Trichoderma harzianum on the development of Ralstonia solanacearum in eggplant

Soil degradation has been accelerated by the use of chemical pesticides and poor agricultural practices, which has had an impact on crop productivity. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in the use of eco-friendly biochar applications to enhance soil quality and sequester carbon in sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to determine the individual and combined effects of Leaf Waste Biochar (LWB) and the bio-control agent Trichoderma harzianum (BCA) on the development of bacterial wilt in eggplants (Solanum melongena) caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (RS). The effects of LWB and BCA on eggplant physiology and defense-related biochemistry were comprehensively examined. Inoculated (+RS) and un-inoculated (-RS) eggplants were grown in potting mixtures containing 3% and 6% (v/v) LWB, both with and without BCA. The percentage disease index was considerably reduced (90%) in plants grown in the 6% LWB+ BCA amended treatments. Moreover, the plants grown in LWB and inoculated with BCA had higher phenolics, flavonoids and peroxidase contents compared to the non-amended control. The level of NPK was significantly increased (92.74% N, 76.47% P, 53.73% K) in the eggplants cultivated in the 6% LWB + BCA composition. This study has shown that the association of T. harzianum with biochar improved plant growth and reduced R. solanacearum induced wilt. Furthermore, the combined impact of biochar and T. harzianum was greater in terms of wilt suppression and increase in plant physiological measurements when the biochar concentration was 6%. Biochar and bio-control agents triggered biochemical alterations, thus enhancing the management of disease-infested soils.

Discovery of Enzyme Inhibitors from Mangrove Sediment Derived Fungus Trichoderma harzianum SCSIO 41051

One new fatty acid derivative, (2E,4E)-6,7-dihydroxy-2-methylocta-2,4-dienoic acid (1), and 16 known compounds (2-17) were isolated from the mangrove sediment derived fungus Trichoderma harzianum SCSIO 41051. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods, computational ECD, and Mo2(OAc)4-induced ECD experiment. All the compounds were evaluated for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibition. Compounds 9 and 14 exhibited moderate AChE inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 2.49 and 2.92 μM, respectively, which compounds 8 and 9 displayed moderate inhibition on PL with IC50 value of 2.30 and 2.34 μM, respectively.

Trichoderma harzianum prevents red kidney bean root rot by increasing plant antioxidant enzyme activity and regulating the rhizosphere microbial community

Root rot is one of the main reasons for yield losses of red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production. Pre-inoculation with Trichoderma harzianum can effectively lower the incidence of red kidney bean root rot. In this study, four treatments including CK (control), Fu13 (Fusarium oxysporum), T891 (T. harzianum) and T891 + Fu13 (T. harzianum + F. oxysporum) were arranged in a pot experiment to investigate how T891 affected the incidence and severity of root rot, plant growth, and changes of defense enzyme activity in red kidney bean plants. Community composition and diversity of the rhizosphere microbiota was evaluated through high-throughput sequencing, and co-occurrence network was analyzed. The results showed that when compared to the Fu13 treatment, pre-inoculation with T891 reduced the incidence and severity of red kidney bean root rot by 40.62 and 68.03% (p < 0.05), increased the root length, shoot length, total dry biomass by 48.63, 97.72, 122.17%. Upregulated activity of super-oxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) by 7.32, 38.48, 98.31% (p < 0.05), and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) by 23.70% (p < 0.05), respectively. Microbiological analyses also showed that F. oxysporum reduced alpha diversity resulting in alteration the composition of the rhizosphere microbial community in red kidney bean. T891 significantly reduced abundance of F. oxysporum, allowing the enrichment of potentially beneficial bacteria Porphyrobacter (ASV 46), Lysobacter (ASV 85), Microbacteriaceae (ASV 105), and Gemmatimonas (ASV 107), resulting in a more stable structure of the microbial network. The results of random forest analysis further revealed that ASV 46 (Porphyrobacter) was the primary influencing factor for the incidence of root rot after inoculation with T891, while ASV 85 (Lysobacter) was the primary influencing factor for the biomass of red kidney bean. In conclusion, T. harzianum promotes the growth of red kidney bean and inhibits root rot by improving plant antioxidant enzyme activity and regulating the rhizosphere microbial community.

Low cost and renewable H2S-biofilter inoculated with Trichoderma harzianum

The use of biogas to produce hydrogen is currently gaining more attention. One of the drawbacks for the valorization of biogas is the presence of H2S, a hazardous molecule that can cause damage in the metallic internal structures of industries. In this study, the H2S-removal performance of a fungi-based biofilter was investigated. First, an H2S-resistant fungal species was isolated from an industrial digestate and identified as Trichoderma harzianum. The capacity of this microorganism to metabolize H2S in a mineral medium was confirmed. Then, a bioreactor was constructed and put in place to monitor the elimination of gaseous H2S. A mix of cardboard, perlite, woodchips, and wood pellets was used as filling. Microbial development and the outlet gas composition were monitored during a 60-day experimental process during which H2S was completely removed. 97% of the introduced sulphur was detected in the used filling material (fungal species + packing material) by elemental analysis. 24% of the detected sulphur was identified by ion-exchange chromatography as SO42-. Elemental analysis, gas chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography were used to determine the bioreactor sulphur balance. Metagenomic analysis underlined that H2S elimination was due to the presence of Trichoderma harzianum with a H2S-specific bacterial consortium.

The recombinant L-lysine α-oxidase from the fungus Trichoderma harzianum promotes apoptosis and necrosis of leukemia CD34 + hematopoietic cells

BACKGROUND

In hematologic cancers, including leukemia, cells depend on amino acids for rapid growth. Anti-metabolites that prevent their synthesis or promote their degradation are considered potential cancer treatment agents. Amino acid deprivation triggers proliferation inhibition, autophagy, and programmed cell death. L-lysine, an essential amino acid, is required for tumor growth and has been investigated for its potential as a target for cancer treatment. L-lysine α-oxidase, a flavoenzyme that degrades L-lysine, has been studied for its ability to induce apoptosis and prevent cancer cell proliferation. In this study, we describe the use of L-lysine α-oxidase (LO) from the filamentous fungus Trichoderma harzianum for cancer treatment.

RESULTS

The study identified and characterized a novel LO from T. harzianum and demonstrated that the recombinant protein (rLO) has potent and selective cytotoxic effects on leukemic cells by triggering the apoptotic cascade through mitochondrial dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

The results support future translational studies using the recombinant LO as a potential drug for the treatment of leukemia.

Desilification of phytolith exacerbates the release of arsenic from rice straw

Arsenic (As) turnover in rice paddy agro-ecosystems has received much attention because As can enter the food chain through its accumulation in rice, thereby affecting human health. Returning straw to soil is a common practice to retain nutrients for soil and crops, but it also cycles As within the rice paddy field ecosystems. However, there is still a lack of detailed understanding of the fate of As in rice straw, and how or to what extent it is recycled back into the soil environment. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between the microstructure of rice straw and the release of As during rice straw decomposition. The microstructure of rice straw was found to comprise both organic and silica (phytolith) components. These two constituents are inter-embedded to form a composite-like structure that contains up to 6.48 mg As Kg-1. The 30-day batch experiments revealed that the biochemical release of As simultaneously depends upon the decomposition of the organic component and the desilicification of the silica component. Accompanying the release of As was the release of other elements such as Fe, Al, P and S. These elements can further interact with As to form less mobile compounds. The introduction of either Trichoderma harzianum or Bacillus velezensis was expected to accelerate the decomposition of rice straw, and enhance the silica dissolution, hence contributing to an increase in the As release. Despite these expectations, our observations showed the opposite effects. Microorganisms presumably have facilitated the change in solution chemistry or the inclusion of As into the newly-formed precipitates. The biochemical decomposition process can reduce straw particle size, while the negatively-charge surface will involve microsized straw particles in the electrostatic interaction, thereby favoring the dispersibility state. Therefore, the co-transport of micro-sized straw particles with As under field conditions should not be neglected.

Two new acorane-type sesquiterpenoids from an endophytic Trichoderma harzianum associated with Paeonia lactiflora Pall

Two new acorane-type sesquiterpenoids, harzianes A and B (1 and 2), together with two known cyclonerodiol-type sesquiterpenoids (3-4) and four known sterols (5-8) were isolated from the endophytic Trichoderma harzianum, associated with the medicinal plant Paeonia lactiflora Pall. Compounds 1 and 2 were identified as a pair of heterotropic isomers by spectroscopic analysis (HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR), and their absolute configurations were determined by ECD calculations. All compounds were tested for anti-inflammatory activity, however, none demonstrated such activity.

Preparation and assessment of alginate-microencapsulated Trichoderma harzianum for controlling Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Rhizoctonia solani on tomato

This study aimed to develop microencapsulation technology using alginate to improve the viability and performance of Trichoderma harzianum. The method of ionic gelation was used to prepare the microparticles, and the efficiency of encapsulation was estimated to be 99%. The average size of the prepared microspheres was 2600 μm (wet) and 1000 μm (dry). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the microspheres were approximately spherical. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer analysis indicated an interaction between T. harzianum and the microspheres. The results of temperature resistance and light stability against ultraviolet radiation emphasized the positive impact of microencapsulation in improving the viability and resistance of T. harzianum compared to the non-microencapsulated state. The disease percentage of Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in plants treated with microencapsulated T. harzianum microcapsules was 8.88 % and 20 % respectively, but in the control group was 73.33 % (p ≤ 0.05).

Spherical Fe2O3 nanoparticles inhibit the production of aflatoxins (B1 and B2) and regulate total soluble solids and titratable acidity of peach fruit

Aflatoxin is a group I carcinogen and causes significant public health and food safety risks, throughout the world. This study was carried out to assess the levels of aflatoxin contamination in diseased peach (Prunus persica L.) fruit and their control using myco-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 NPs). Diseased peach fruit were diagnosed to be infected with Aspergillus flavus. The isolated pathogen was cultured under UV light (365 nm) and exposed to ammonium hydroxide (31 %) vapors, which confirmed its ability to produce aflatoxin. For the control of this disease, Fe2O3 NPs were synthesized in the filtrate of a biocontrol fungus (Trichoderma harzianum) and characterized before analyzing their potential in disease control. FTIR spectrum described the presence of capping and reducing agents (secondary amines, alcohol, alkyne and aromatic compounds) on the surface of Fe2O3 NPs. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) described the crystalline size (7.78), while the spherical shape of Fe2O3 NPs was described by the SEM analysis. The EDX spectrum indicated the successful formation of Fe2O3 NPs by showing strong signals of iron (74.38 %). All concentrations displayed mycelial growth inhibition, in vitro and the greatest growth reduction (65.4 %) was observed at 1 mg/ml concentration of NPs. At the same concentration of Fe2O3 NPs, significant control of fruit rot of peach was also observed, in vivo. Treatment of Fe2O3 NPs maintained higher soluble solids, sucrose, total sugar, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity and firmness of peach fruit. Diseased fruit were further investigated for the presence and detection of aflatoxins. All three methods viz. thin layer chromatography (TLC), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirmed a higher production of aflatoxins in control plants, while this production was significantly reduced in Fe2O3 NPs-treated peach fruit.

Limited effects of plant-beneficial fungi on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuis

Biological control using plant-beneficial fungi has gained considerable interest as a sustainable method for pest management, by priming the plant for enhanced defense against pathogens and insect herbivores. However, despite promising outcomes, little is known about how different fungal strains mediate these beneficial effects. In this study, we evaluated whether inoculation of tomato seeds with the plant-beneficial fungi Beauveria bassiana ARSEF 3097, Metarhizium brunneum ARSEF 1095 and Trichoderma harzianum T22 affected the plant's volatile organic compound (VOC) profile and the host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuis, an emerging pest species in NW-European tomato cultivation, and the related zoophytophagous biocontrol agent Macrolophus pygmaeus. Results indicated that fungal inoculation did not significantly alter the VOC composition of tomato plants. However, in a two-choice cage assay where female insects were given the option to select between control plants and fungus-inoculated plants, N. tenuis preferred control plants over M. brunneum-inoculated plants. Nearly 72% of all N. tenuis individuals tested chose the control treatment. In all other combinations tested, no significant differences were found for none of the insects. We conclude that inoculation of tomato with plant-beneficial fungi had limited effects on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of insects. However, the observation that N. tenuis was deterred from the crop when inoculated with M. brunneum and attracted to non-inoculated plants may provide new opportunities for future biocontrol based on a push-pull strategy.

Identification of mycoparasitism-related genes in Trichoderma harzianum T4 that are active against Colletotrichum musae

Trichoderma harzianum is a well-known biological control agent (BCA) that shows great potential in controlling many pathogenic fungi. To screen for genes associated with mycoparasitism, we sequenced and analyzed the transcriptome of T. harzianum T4 grown in dual culture with Colletotrichum musae. We analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of Trichoderma harzianum T4 in three different culture periods: before contact (BC), during contact (C) and after contact (AC). A total of 1453 genes were significantly differentially expressed compared to when T. harzianum T4 was cultured alone. During the three periods of double culture of T. harzianum T4 with C. musae, 74, 516, and 548 genes were up-regulated, respectively, and 11, 315, and 216 genes were down-regulated, respectively. The DEGs were screened using GO and KEGG enrichment analyses combined with differential expression multiples. Six gene categories related to mycoparasitism were screened: (a) pathogen recognition and signal transduction, (b) hydrolases, (c) ribosomal proteins and secreted proteins, (d) multidrug-resistant proteins and transporters, (e) heat shock proteins and detoxification, and (f) oxidative stress and antibiotics-related genes. The expression levels of 24 up-regulated genes during T. harzianum T4's antagonistic interaction with C. musae were detected via real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). This study provided information on the transcriptional expression of T. harzianum T4 against C. musae. These results may help us to further understand the mechanism of mycoparasitism, which can provide a potential molecular target for improving the biological control capacity of T. harzianum T4.

Proteomics analysis of resistance mechanism of Trichoderma harzianum under U(VI) stress

Trichoderma harzianum has a certain resistance to Hexavalent Uranium (U(VI)), but its resistance mechanism is unknown. Based on proteomics sequencing using DIA mode, differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) of Trichoderma harzianum under U(VI) stress were identified. GO enrichment, KEGG annotation analysis and DEPs annotation were performed. The results showed that 8 DEPs, 8 DEPs and 15 DEPs were obtained in the low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups, respectively. The functional classification of GO demonstrated that DEPs were associated with 17 molecular functions, 5 biological processes, and 5 cellular components. Furthermore, DEPs were enriched in transport and catabolism, energy metabolism, translation, and signal transduction. These findings showed that Trichoderma harzianum was significantly changed in protein expression and signaling pathway after U(VI) exposure. Therefore, these results have provided Trichoderma harzianum with a theoretical background that can be applied to environmental cleanup.

Isolation and characterization of Trichoderma harzianum L-methioninase with promising a powerful anticancer

Bioactive components derived from medicinal herbs have recently acquired popularity due to their efficacy in treating various ailments, including cancer and infectious diseases. In this study, the anticancer enzyme, L-methioninase isolated from medicinal plants endophytic fungi, then evaluated its promising therapeutic agents against different types of human cancers. L methionine was purified using column chromatography with the stationary phase of Sephadex G-200 with 6.6-fold purification, which increased the specific activity of 71.3 U/mg of protein with a recovery rate of 48.2 %. On the SDS-PAGE chromatogram, the apparent molecular mass of the isolated enzyme was 48 kDa, and its highest activity was observed at pH 8 and 35 °C. The enzyme was catalytically stable within the pH range of 6.0-9.0 and below 40 °C. This study demonstrates that isolated L-methioninase is particularly efficient against tumour cell lines in vitro. The crude and purified L-methioninase inhibited 60 and 80 % of the growth of the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), respectively, with an estimated IC50 = 12.6 μg/ml (crude) and IC50 = 5.0 μg/ml for purified L-methioninase from isolate 8 with accession no MZ675362. Because of this, pure L-methioninase has better catalytic characteristics and significant thermal stability, which could be used as a cancer-fighting substance than the enzyme purified from other sources.

Trichoderma harzianum as fungicide and symbiont: is it safe for human and animals?

Trichoderma species are considered as biological control agents against numerous phytopathogenic fungi. They are also helpful for plants as plant symbiont. This study aimed to identify harmful effects of Trichoderma in laboratory animals. In the first step, inhalation toxicity was studied. Six rats as control received a spray of bio-formulation without spores. Ten rats as treatment A received    1.00 × 106 colony-forming unit (CFU) of Trichoderma spores and ten rats as treatment B received 1.00 × 107 CFU per test of Trichoderma spores. The harmful effects of Trichoderma were obvious especially in the lungs, liver and kidney, and some blood parameters were abnormal. In the second step, we studied acute oral toxicity by gavage. Four rats as control received bio-formulation without spores. Six rats as treatment A received 1.00 × 106 CFU per test of Trichoderma spores. Six rats as treatment B received 1.00 × 107 CFU per test of Trichoderma spores. The harmful effects of Trichoderma were noticeable more in the liver and kidney tissues. For dermal toxicity study, two rabbits as control received bio-formulation without spores by rubbing on the surface of the skin. Treatment groups A and B received 1.00 × 106 and 1.00 × 107 CFU per test of Trichoderma spores, respectively (four rabbits for each group). The liver and kidney and some blood parameters were abnormal. Trichoderma has some harmful effects on tissues and organs and although it is a natural product, it should be used under cautions.

Suppression of Phytophthora capsici in Chile Pepper Using Brassica juncea and Hordeum vulgare Cover Crop Residues and Trichoderma harzianum as a Biocontrol Agent

Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is a serious disease of many vegetable crops worldwide. In New Mexico, U.S.A., the disease affects chile pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), a major crop in the state. There is no single tool that effectively controls the disease. Continuous research is needed in identifying combination of tools that can reduce the impact of Phytophthora blight. We explored the potential of combining cover crops and biocontrol agents to reduce soilborne diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cover crop on the antagonistic ability of Trichoderma harzianum against P. capsici in vitro and to quantify the impacts of combining soil amendment with residues from B. juncea and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cover crops and plastic covering on infection of chile pepper seedlings by P. capsici under greenhouse conditions. Volatiles from macerated tissue of B. juncea significantly reduced P. capsici and T. harzianum growth in the absence of soil by 89.0 and 79.0%, respectively. When incorporated in soils, volatiles from macerated tissue of B. juncea significantly reduced P. capsici and T. harzianum by 33.4 and 7.8%, respectively. T. harzianum was more resilient to B. juncea biofumigation than P. capsici. Significant reduction in disease incidence was observed with B. juncea-fumigated soil, while no disease suppression was observed with soil incorporation of H. vulgare residues. Covering soil with plastic was necessary for increasing the efficacy of B. juncea biofumigation.

Metabolomics reveal metabolic variation caused by co-culture of Arthrobacter ureafaciens and Trichoderma harzianum and their impacts on wheat germination

Arthrobacter ureafaciens DnL1-1 is a bacterium used for atrazine degradation, while Trichoderma harzianum LTR-2 is a widely used biocontrol fungus. In this study, a liquid co-cultivation of these two organisms was initially tested. The significant changes in the metabolome of fermentation liquors were investigated based on cultivation techniques (single-cultured and co-cultured DnL1-1 and LTR-2) using an UPLC-QTOF-MS in an untargeted metabolomic approach. Principle components analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) supervised modelling revealed modifications of the metabolic profiles in fermentation liquors as a function of interactions between different strains. Compared with pure-cultivation of DnL1-1, 51 compounds were altered during the cocultivation, with unique and significant differences in the abundance of organic nitrogen compounds (e.g. carnitine, acylcarnitine 4:0, acylcarnitine 5:0, 3-dehydroxycarnitine and O-acetyl-L-carnitine) and trans-zeatin riboside. Nevertheless, compared with pure-cultivation of LTR-2, the abundance of 157 compounds, including amino acids, soluble sugars, organic acids, indoles and derivatives, nucleosides, and others, changed significantly in the cocultivation. Among them, the concentration of tryptophan, which is a precursor to indoleacetic acid, indoleacetic acid, aspartic acid, and L-glutamic acid increased while that of most soluble sugars decreased upon cocultivation. The fermentation filtrates of co-cultivation of LTR-2 and DnL1-1 showed significant promoting effects on germination and radicle length of wheat. A subsequent experiment demonstrated synergistic effects of differential metabolites caused by co-cultivation of DnL1-1 and LTR-2 on wheat germination. Comprehensive metabolic profiling may provide valuable information on the effects of DnL1-1 and LTR-2 on wheat growth.

Trichoderma harzianum inoculation promotes sweet sorghum growth in the saline soil by modulating rhizosphere available nutrients and bacterial community

As one of the major abiotic stresses, salinity can affect crop growth and plant productivity worldwide. The inoculation of rhizosphere or endophytic microorganisms can enhance plant tolerance to salt stresses, but the potential mechanism is not clear. In this study, Trichoderma harzianum ST02 was applied on sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in a field trial to investigate the effects on microbiome community and physiochemical properties in the rhizosphere soil. Compared with the non-inoculated control, Trichoderma inoculation significantly increased the stem yield, plant height, stem diameter, and total sugar content in stem by 35.52%, 32.68%, 32.09%, and 36.82%, respectively. In addition, Trichoderma inoculation improved the nutrient availability (e.g., N, P, and K) and organic matter in the rhizosphere soil and changed the bacterial community structure and function in both bulk and rhizosphere soil by particularly increasing the relative abundance of Actinobacter and N-cycling genes (nifH, archaeal and bacterial amoA). We proposed that T. harzianum ST02 could promote sweet sorghum growth under saline conditions by regulating available nutrients and the bacterial community in the rhizosphere soil.

ROS-mediated waterlogging memory, induced by priming, mitigates photosynthesis inhibition in tomato under waterlogging stress

With global climate change, the frequency and intensity of waterlogging events are increasing due to frequent and heavy precipitation. Little is known however about the response of plants to repeated waterlogging stress events. The aim is to clarify physiological regulation mechanisms of tomato plants under repeated waterlogging stress, and whether Trichoderma harzianum can alleviate waterlogging injury. We identified two genotypes of tomato, 'MIX-002' and 'LA4440', as waterlogging tolerant and sensitive genotypes, respectively, based on plant biomass accumulation. The two tomato genotypes were subjected to a waterlogging priming treatment for 2 days (excess water for 1 cm above substrate surface) followed by a recovery stage for 2 days, and then a second waterlogging stress for 5 days (excess water for 1 cm above substrate surface) followed by a second recovery stage for 3 days. Leaf physiological, plant growth parameters, and the expression of five key genes were investigated. We found that the two genotypes responded differently to waterlogging priming and stress in terms of photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and osmotic regulatory mechanisms. Waterlogging stress significantly increased H2O2 content of 'MIX-002', while that of 'LA4440' had no significant change. Under waterlogging stress, photosynthesis of the two genotypes treated with waterlogging priming returned to the control level. However, Trichoderma harzianum treatment during the second recovery stage did not show positive mitigative effects. The plants of 'LA4440' with priming showed lower peroxidase (POD) activity and proline content but higher H2O2 content than that without priming under waterlogging stress. Under waterlogging stress with priming as compared to without priming, SODCC2 was downregulated in two tomatoes, and AGR2 and X92888 were upregulated in 'MIX-002' but downregulated in 'LA4440'. Overall, the two tomato genotypes exhibited distinct photosynthetic, ROS and osmotic regulatory mechanisms responding to the waterlogging stress. Waterlogging priming can induce stress memory by adjusting stomatal conductance, sustaining ROS homeostasis, regulating osmotic regulatory substances and key gene expressions mediated by H2O2, and thus alleviate the damage on tomato photosynthesis when waterlogging reoccurred.

Assessment of Biochemical and Neuroactivities of Cultural Filtrate from Trichoderma harzianum in Adjusting Electrolytes and Neurotransmitters in Hippocampus of Epileptic Rats

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is a serious chronic neurological disorder, which is accompanied by recurrent seizures. Repeated seizures cause physical injuries and neuronal dysfunction and may be a risk of cancer and vascular diseases. However, many antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have side effects of mood alteration or neurocognitive function, a reduction in neuron excitation, and the inhibition of normal activity. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of secondary metabolites of Trichoderma harzianum cultural filtrate (ThCF) when adjusting different electrolytes and neurotransmitters in the hippocampus of epileptic rats.

METHODS

Cytotoxicity of ThCF against LS-174T cancer cells was assessed using a sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Quantitative estimation for some neurotransmitters, electrolytes in sera or homogenate of hippocampi tissues, and mRNA gene expression for ion or voltage gates was assessed by quantitative Real-Time PCR.

RESULTS

Treatment with ThCF reduces the proliferative percentage of LS-174T cells in a concentration-dependent manner. ThCF administration improves hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and hypocalcemia in the sera of the epilepticus model. ThCF rebalances the elevated levels of many neurotransmitters and reduces the release of GABA and acetylcholine-esterase. Also, treatments with ThCF ameliorate the downregulation of mRNA gene expression for some gate receptors in hippocampal homogenate tissues and recorded a highly significant elevation in the expression of SCN1A, CACNA1S, and NMDA.

CONCLUSION

Secondary metabolites of Trichoderma (ThCF) have cytotoxic activity against LS-174T (colorectal cancer cell line) and anxiolytic-like activity through a GABAergic mechanism of action and an increase in GABA as inhibitory amino acid in the selected brain regions and reduced levels of NMDA and DOPA. The present data suggested that ThCF may inhibit intracellular calcium accumulation by triggering the NAADP-mediated Ca2+ signaling pathway. Therefore, the present results suggested further studies on the molecular pathway for each metabolite of ThCF, e.g., 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6-PP), harzianic acid (HA), and hydrophobin, as an alternative drug to mitigate the side effects of AEDs.

New Potential Biological Limiters of the Main Esca-Associated Fungi in Grapevine

The strains Trichoderma harzianum TH07.1-NC (TH), Aphanocladium album MX95 (AA), Pleurotus eryngii AL142PE (PE) and Pleurotus ostreatus ALPO (PO) were tested as biological limiters against Fomitiporia mediterranea Fme22.12 (FM), Phaeoacremonium minimum Pm22.53 (PM) and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora Pc22.65 (PC). Pathogens were obtained from naturally Esca-affected 'Nero di Troia' vines cropped in Grumo Appula (Puglia region, Southern Italy). The antagonistic activity of each challenge organism was verified in a dual culture. TH and PO completely overgrew the three pathogens. Partial replacement characterized PE-FM, PE-PM, PE-PC and AA-PC interactions. Deadlock at mycelial contact was observed in AA-FM and AA-PM cultures. The calculated antagonism index (AI) indicated TH and PE as moderately active antagonists (10 < AI < 15), while AA and PO were weakly active (AI < 10). The maximum value of the re-isolation index (s) was associated with deadlock among AA-PM, AA-PC and PE-FM dual cultures. The tested biological limiters were always re-isolated when PO and TH completely replaced the three tested pathogens. TH and AA confirmed their efficiencies as biological limiters when inoculated on detached canes of 'Nero di Troia' in dual combination with FM, PC and PM. Nevertheless, additional experiments should be performed for a solid conclusion, along with validation experiments in the field.

Combination of Biochar and Trichoderma harzianum Can Improve the Phytoremediation Efficiency of Brassica juncea and the Rhizosphere Micro-Ecology in Cadmium and Arsenic Contaminated Soil

Phytoremediation is an environment-friendly method for toxic elements remediation. The aim of this study was to improve the phytoremediation efficiency of Brassica juncea and the rhizosphere soil micro-ecology in cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) contaminated soil. A field experiment was conducted with six treatments, including a control treatment (CK), two treatments with two contents of Trichoderma harzianum (T1: 4.5 g m-2; T2: 9 g m-2), one biochar treatment (B: 750 g m-2), and two combined treatments of T1B and T2B. The results showed Trichoderma harzianum promoted the total chlorophyll and translocation factor of Brassica juncea, while biochar promoted plant biomass compared to CK. T2B treatment showed the best results, which significantly increased Cd accumulation by 187.49-308.92%, and As accumulation by 125.74-221.43%. As a result, the soil's total Cd content was reduced by 19.04% to 49.64% and total As contents by 38.76% to 53.77%. The combined amendment increased the contents of soil available potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and organic matter. Meanwhile, both the activity of glutathione and peroxidase enzymes in plants, together with urease and sucrase enzymes in soil, were increased. Firmicutes (dominant bacterial phylum) and Ascomycota (dominant fungal phylum) showed positive and close correlation with soil nutrients and plant potentially toxic elements contents. This study demonstrated that phytoremediation assisted by biochar and Trichoderma harzianum is an effective method of soil remediation and provides a new strategy for enhancing plant remediation efficiency.

Comparison of assembly platforms for the assembly of the nuclear genome of Trichoderma harzianum strain PAR3

BACKGROUND

Trichoderma is a diverse genus of fungi that includes several species that possess biotechnological and agricultural applications, including the biocontrol of pathogenic fungi and nematodes. The mitochondrial genome of a putative strain of Trichoderma harzianum called PAR3 was analyzed after isolation from the roots of Scarlet Royal grapevine scion grafted to Freedom rootstock, located in a grapevine vineyard in Parlier, CA, USA. Here, we report the sequencing, comparative assembly, and annotation of the nuclear genome of PAR3 and confirm its identification as a strain of T. harzianum. We subsequently compared the genes found in T. harzianum PAR3 to other known T. harzianum strains. Assembly of Illumina and/or Oxford Nanopore reads by the popular long-read assemblers, Flye and Canu, and the hybrid assemblers, SPAdes and MaSuRCA, was performed and the quality of the resulting assemblies were compared to ascertain which assembler generated the highest quality draft genome assembly.

RESULTS

MaSuRCA produced the most complete and high-fidelity assembly yielding a nuclear genome of 40.7 Mb comprised of 112 scaffolds. Subsequent annotation of this assembly produced 12,074 gene models and 210 tRNAs. This included 221 genes that did not have equivalent genes in other T. harzainum strains. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS, rpb2, and tef1a sequences from PAR3 and established Trichoderma spp. showed that all three sequences from PAR3 possessed more than 99% identity to those of Trichoderma harzianum, confirming that PAR3 is an isolate of Trichoderma harzianum. We also found that comparison of gene models between T. harzianum PAR3 and other T. harzianum strains resulted in the identification of significant differences in gene type and number, with 221 unique genes identified in the PAR3 strain.

CONCLUSIONS

This study gives insight into the efficacy of several popular assembly platforms for assembly of fungal nuclear genomes, and found that the hybrid assembler, MaSuRCA, was the most effective program for genome assembly. The annotated draft nuclear genome and the identification of genes not found in other T. harzainum strains could be used to investigate the potential applications of T. harzianum PAR3 for biocontrol of grapevine fungal canker pathogens and as source of anti-microbial compounds.

Molecular identification of endophytes from maize roots and their biocontrol potential against toxigenic fungi of Nigerian maize

Plants benefit from plant-associated microorganisms, of which endophytes are of particular interest as they are transmitted from generation to generation. This study characterises endophytes from maize roots and determines their biocontrol potential against toxigenic fungi in Nigerian maize. Maize roots were collected from farms in Lafia, and stored grain samples were collected from the six Northern States of Nigeria, from which endophytes and toxigenic fungal strains were isolated. Molecular identification employing 16SrRNA/internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences for isolated fungal endophytes was carried out, and mycotoxins produced by fungi were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Biocontrol activity of the endophytes was determined using the dual culture confrontation test. Aspergillus and Fusarium genera were the prevalent isolated fungal species. Eight fungal endophytes were identified of which Trichoderma harzianum, Dichotomopilus erectus and Burkholderia spp. were the isolates with biocontrol activities, while 12 Aspergillus spp. were found to produce varying amounts of ochratoxin A and aflatoxin B1, respectively. T. harzianum showed the best inhibition (74%), followed by D. erectus (50%) and Burkholderia spp. (48%). T. harzianum showed poor inhibition of Aspergillus flavus (B7) at 30%. However, results from the Pakdaman Biological Control Index showed that T. harzianum has the best antifungal biocontrol activity of the three endophytes. The study concludes that antifungal biocontrol agents can be sourced from endophytes to obtain indigenous control activities that can check mycotoxin contamination of food and livestock feed, as well as elucidate possible metabolites for agricultural and industrial applications, which will help improve plant performance, increase crop yield and sustainability.

Exploration and Evaluation of Secondary Metabolites from Trichoderma harzianum: GC-MS Analysis, Phytochemical Profiling, Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity Assessment

In this study, we investigated in vitro the potential of Trichoderma harzianum to produce bioactive secondary metabolites that can be used as alternatives to synthetic compounds. The study focused on analyzing two extracts of T. harzianum using ethyl acetate and n-butanol solvents with different polarities. The extracts were examined using phytochemical analysis to determine the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis were used to profile volatile organic metabolites (VOCs) present in the extracts. Furthermore, the extracts were tested for their antifungal ability using the poison food technique. For measuring antioxidant activity, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) test was used. Trichoderma harzianum was shown to have a significantly high content of tannins and alkaloids, with a noticeable difference between the two extracts. GC-MS analysis identified 33 potential compounds with numerous benefits that could be used in agriculture and the medicinal industry. Moreover, strong antifungal activity was identified against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by 94.44%, Alternaria sp. by 77.04%, and Fusarium solani by 51.48; similarly, the IC₅₀ of antioxidant activity was estimated for ethyl acetate extract by 71.47% and n-butanol extract by 56.01%. This leads to the conclusion that Trichoderma harzianum VOCs play a significant role as an antifungal and antioxidant agent when taking into account the advantageous bioactive chemicals noted in the extracts. However, to our knowledge, this is the first study in Algeria presenting detailed phytochemical analysis and GC-MS profiling of Trichoderma harzianum for two extracts, ethyl acetate and n-butanol.

Learning from Seed Microbes: Trichoderma Coating Intervenes in Rhizosphere Microbiome Assembly

Seed-associated microbiomes can impact the later colonization of a plant rhizosphere microbiome. However, there remains little insight into the underlying mechanisms concerning how alterations in the composition of the seed microbiome may intervene in the assembly of a rhizosphere microbiome. In this study, the fungus Trichoderma guizhouense NJAU4742 was introduced to both maize and watermelon seed microbiomes by seed coating. Application was found to significantly promote seed germination and improve plant growth and rhizosphere soil quality. The activities of acid phosphatase, cellulase, peroxidase, sucrase, and α-glucosidase increased significantly in two crops. The introduction of Trichoderma guizhouense NJAU4742 also led to a decrease in the occurrence of disease. Coating with T. guizhouense NJAU4742 did not alter the alpha diversities of the bacterial and fungal communities but formed a key network module that contained both Trichoderma and Mortierella. This key network module comprised of these potentially beneficial microorganisms was positively linked with the belowground biomass and activities of rhizosphere soil enzymes but negatively correlated with disease incidence. Overall, this study provides insights into plant growth promotion and plant health maintenance via seed coating in order to influence the rhizosphere microbiome. IMPORTANCE Seed-associated microbiomes can impact the rhizosphere microbiome assembly and function display. However, there remains little insight into the underlying mechanisms concerning how alterations in the composition of the seed microbiome with the beneficial microbes may intervene in the assembly of a rhizosphere microbiome. Here, we introduced T. guizhouense NJAU4742 to the seed microbiome by seed coating. This introduction led to a decrease in the occurrence of disease and an increase in plant growth; furthermore, it formed a key network module that contained both Trichoderma and Mortierella. Our study provides insights into plant growth promotion and plant health maintenance via seed coating in order to influence the rhizosphere microbiome.

Distinct lignocellulolytic enzymes produced by Trichoderma harzianum in response to different pretreated substrates

In order to optimize the composition of enzyme cocktail for improving the hydrolytic efficiency of lignocellulose, different substrates were tested as inducers for producing lignocellulolytic enzymes by Trichoderma harzianum EM0925 in this study. As results, ultrafine grinding or steam explosion pretreated substrates can induce T. harzianum EM0925 to secret holo lignocellulolytic enzymes; acid treated substrate can induce cellobiohydrolase; while alkali or sodium chlorite treated substrates can induce β-xylosidase specifically. Furthermore, the combination of enzyme cocktails with different hydrolysis characteristics can further improve the hydrolysis efficiency, since 100% yields of glucose and xylose were obtained simultaneously from ultrafine grinding treated corn stover at low enzyme dosage (1.2 mg proteins/g substrate). This study for the first time demonstrated an effective solution that specific-pretreated substrates can be used as inducers for specific enzyme production by T. harzianum, which provided new idea and potential strategy for the construction of highly-efficient lignocellulolytic enzyme cocktails.

Role of ACC-deaminase synthesizing Trichoderma harzianum and plant growth-promoting bacteria in reducing salt-stress in Ocimum sanctum

Salinity is a significant concern in crop production, causing severe losses in agricultural yields. Ocimum sanctum, also known as Holy Basil, is an important ancient medicinal plant used in the Indian traditional system of medicine. The present study explores the use of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase-producing strains of plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) namely Str-8 (Halomonas desiderata), Sd-6 (Brevibacterium halotolerans), Fd-2 (Achromobacter xylosoxidans), Art-7 (Burkholderia cepacia), and Ldr-2 (Bacillus subtilis), and T. harzianum (Th), possessing multi-functional properties like growth promotion, stress alleviation, and for enhancing O. sanctum yield under salt stress. The results showed that co-inoculation of Th and PGPBs enhanced plant height and fresh herb weight by 3.78-17.65% and 7.86-58.76%, respectively; highest being in Th + Fd-2 and Th + Art-7 compared to positive control plants. The doubly inoculated plants showed increased pigments, phenol, flavonoids, protein, sugar, relative water content, and nutrient uptake (Nitrogen and Phosphorous) as compared to monocultures and untreated positive control plants. In addition, co-inoculation in plants resulted in lower Na+, MDA, H2O2, CAT, APX activities, and also lower ACC accumulation (49.75 to 72.38% compared to non-treated salt- stressed plant) in O. sanctum, which probably played a significant role in minimizing the deleterious effects of salinity. Finally, multifactorial analysis showed that co-inoculation of Th and PGPBs improved O. sanctum growth, its physiological activities, and alleviated salt stress compared to single inoculated and positive control plants. These microbial consortia were evaluated for the first time on O. sanctum under salt stress. Therefore, the microbial consortia application could be employed to boost crop productivity in poor, marginalized and stressed agricultural fields.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01328-2.

A Feasibility Study on the Recall of Metallophilic Fungi from Fe(III)-Contaminated Soil and Evaluating Their Mycoremediation Capacity: Experimental and Theoretical Study

Mycoremediation is one of the most attractive, eco-friendly, and sustainable methods to mitigate the toxic effects of heavy metals. This study aimed to determine the mycoremediation capacity of metallophilic fungi isolated from heavy-metal-contaminated soil containing a high Fe(III) concentration (118.40 mg/kg). Four common fungal strains were isolated, including Curvularia lunata, Fusarium equiseti, Penicillium pinophilum, and Trichoderma harzianum. These fungal strains were exposed to gradually increasing concentrations of Fe(III) of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 mg/L. Sophisticated techniques and tests were employed to investigate the mycoremediation capability, including tolerance index (TI), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and adsorption isotherm. Furthermore, the impacts of initial concentration, pH, and temperature on the Fe(III) removal (%) and uptake capacity (mg/g) of the studied samples were investigated. The results were validated by statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA. It was found that the Fe(III) uptake with different ratios triggered alterations in the Fe(III) tolerance (TI) morphological (SEM), chemical (FTIR), and adsorption capacity properties. The highest Fe(III) tolerance for all studied fungal strains was achieved at 100 mg/L. Moreover, the optimum conditions of Fe(III) removal (%) for all studied fungal strains were within pH 7 and 28 °C, with similar performance at the initial Fe(III) concentration ranging from 50-200 mg/L. At the same time, the maximum Fe(III) uptake was achieved at pH 7, 20 °C, and 200 mg/L. Compared to other strains, the Fe(III) tolerance of T. harzianum was rise in the Fe(III) concentration. The Fe(III) uptake reaction was corroborated by best fitting with the Langmuir model, achieving optimum adsorption capacities of 61.34, 62.90, 63.30, and 72.46 mg/g for C.lunata, F. equiseti, P. pinophilum, T. harzianum, respectively. It can be deduced that the addressed fungi species can be applied in mycoremediation according to the utilized Fe(III) concentrations with more superiority for live T. harzianum.

Using green waste as substrate to produce biostimulant and biopesticide products through solid-state fermentation

Although the use of green waste as a substrate in different types of microbial bioprocessing has a major impact on improving green waste valorization, very little information has been provided on this issue. The purpose of this paper is to study the feasibility of using green waste to produce a biostimulant (Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)) and biopesticide (conidial spore) through solid-state fermentation. Trichoderma harzianum was selected as the inoculum of the process and the green waste was a mixture of grass clippings and pruning waste. An experiment was designed to study the effect of tryptophan concentration, proportion of grass and pruning waste, and substrate moisture on IAA and spore production. The results show that washing and using phosphate buffer has a beneficial effect on green waste quality in terms of bioproduction. The maximum IAA and spore productions reported in the current study were 101.46 µg g^-1 dry matter and 3.03 × 10⁹ spore g^-1 dry matter, respectively. According to the results, IAA production increases with a higher amount of tryptophan and grass. However, the number of spores increased with lower amounts of tryptophan and grass. The model suggested the following optimized parameters for the production of spores and IAA: tryptophan 0.45 %, grass 61 %, and moisture 74 %. The effect of fermentation time was also studied, and the results show that the maximum IAA and spore production was obtained on days 3 and 7, respectively.

Trichoderma asperellum L. Coupled the Effects of Biochar to Enhance the Growth and Physiology of Contrasting Maize Cultivars under Copper and Nickel Stresses

Crop cultivation in heavy metal (HM)-polluted soils is a routine practice in developing countries that causes multiple human health consequences. Hence, two independent studies have been performed to investigate the efficiency of rice husk biochar (BC) and three fungal species, Trichoderma harzianum (F1), Trichoderma asperellum (F2) and Trichoderma viride (F3), to improve the growth and physiology of Zea mays L. plants grown on soil contaminated with Cu and Ni. Initially, a biosorption trial was conducted to test the HM removal efficiency of species F1, F2 and F3. Among them, F2 sp. showed the maximum Cu and Ni removal efficiency. Then, a pot study was conducted with two cultivars (spring corn and footer corn) having eleven treatments with three replicates. The results demonstrated a significant genotypic variation among both cultivars under applied HM stress. The maximum decreases in leaf Chl a. (53%), Chl b. (84%) and protein (63%) were reported in footer corn with applied Cu stress. The combined application of biochar and F2 increased leaf CAT (96%) in spring corn relative to Cu stress. Altogether, it was found that BC + F2 treatment showed the maximum efficiency in combatting Cu and Ni stress in spring corn.

Identification of miRNAs Involved in Maize-Induced Systemic Resistance Primed by Trichoderma harzianum T28 against Cochliobolus heterostrophus

microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play important roles in the immune response to pathogen infection in different plants. Further, Trichoderma strains are able to activate plant defense responses against pathogen attacks. However, little is known about the involvement of miRNAs in the defense response primed by Trichoderma strains. To explore the miRNAs sensitive to priming by Trichoderma, we studied the small RNAs and transcriptome changes in maize leaves that were systemically induced by seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum (strain T28) against Cochliobolus heterostrophus (C. heterostrophus) infection in leaves. Through analysis of the sequencing data, 38 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and 824 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. GO and KEGG analyses of DEGs demonstrated that genes involved in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway and oxidation-reduction process were significantly enriched. In addition, 15 miRNA-mRNA interaction pairs were identified through the combined analysis of DEMs and DEGs. These pairs were supposed to play roles in the maize resistance primed by T. harzianum T28 to C. heterostrophus, in which miR390, miR169j, miR408b, miR395a/p, and novel miRNA (miRn5231) were more involved in the induction of maize resistance. This study provided valuable information for understanding the regulatory role of miRNA in the T. harzianum primed defense response.

Strain improvement of Trichoderma harzianum for enhanced biocontrol capacity: Strategies and prospects

In the control of plant diseases, biocontrol has the advantages of being efficient and safe for human health and the environment. The filamentous fungus Trichoderma harzianum and its closely related species can inhibit the growth of many phytopathogenic fungi, and have been developed as commercial biocontrol agents for decades. In this review, we summarize studies on T. harzianum species complex from the perspective of strain improvement. To elevate the biocontrol ability, the production of extracellular proteins and compounds with antimicrobial or plant immunity-eliciting activities need to be enhanced. In addition, resistance to various environmental stressors should be strengthened. Engineering the gene regulatory system has the potential to modulate a variety of biological processes related to biocontrol. With the rapidly developing technologies for fungal genetic engineering, T. harzianum strains with increased biocontrol activities are expected to be constructed to promote the sustainable development of agriculture.

Construction of a compound microbial agent for biocontrol against Fusarium wilt of banana

Banana wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense has devastated a large number of banana plantations worldwide. Biological control is a possible method to conquer this disease. However, the control effect was often low and unstable while a single biocontrol strain had been applied in the field. Therefore, this study aimed to construct an effective compound microbial agent to control Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB) in the field. In addition to it, the compounding strategy of combining single strains for improving the control effect was investigated. Based on the compatibility test, five representative biocontrol strains were selected for the combination of all possible permutations. The pot experiment indicated that every biocontrol strain and their 26 combinations could control FWB to varying degrees. The control effect of combinations on FWB was higher than that of a single strain. In terms of the number of combinatorial biocontrol strains, the control effect of the four-strain combinations was the highest. According to the taxonomic differences of the five biocontrol strains, 26 biocontrol strain combinations could be divided into four groups. Among the strains in the combination, the larger the taxonomic differences the more easily it was to obtain a higher control effect. To obtain stable and efficient combinations, eight combinations were selected out and evaluated for their effectiveness in controlling FWB in different type soil. Compared with the other seven combinations, the four-strain combination T28 (Pt05 + Bc11 + Ba62 + gz-2) got the highest and stablest control effect in the four types of soil in greenhouse. And then the control effect of combination T28 was evaluated in field conditions, compared with commercially agents Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma harzianum, and carbendazim. After four consecutive applications in the field, the control effect of T28 against FWB was the highest, reaching 57.14%. The results showed that combination T28 had a good application prospect, and the finding provided a reference for the construction of compound microbial agents.

An eco-friendly approach of biocontrol of aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover) by Trichoderma harzianum

Aphid (Aphis gossypii) is one of the important pests of papaya crop. In this work, applications of Trichoderma harzianum and Beauveria bassiana (biocontrol agents) and malathion (insecticide) were conducted in vitro and in agrifields for testing their anti-aphid efficacy and compared their efficacy. Furthermore, the enzymatic mechanism of T. harzianum with respect to biocontrolling the pest was unearthed. The LD₅₀ dose of T. harzianum and B. bassiana was 1.2 × 10⁵ spores mL^-1 and 1.0 × 10⁶ spores mL^-1 respectively after 48 h of administration. The LT₅₀ of T. harzianum also exhibited a lower effective time (47.70 h) than B. bassiana (57.53 h) for the same concentration of spores applied (1 × 10⁵ spores mL^-1). The pooled data analysis of two years (2019-2020) showed that the application of T. harzianum spores in agrifields exhibited 31.75 ± 13.00a percentage of reduction of aphid population whereas malathion exhibited 23.93 ± 1.30a%, in comparison to control. The statistical analysis indicated that the application of malathion exhibited the same efficacy as T. harzianum isolate and placed in the same category. In plate detection assay, T. harzianum produced a higher hydrolytic zone for chitinase (8.0 ± 0.4 cm diameter) and protease (7.0 ± 0.4 cm diameter) enzymes, than B. bassiana (1.3 ± 0.2 cm and 1.1 ± 0.2 cm respectively). Quantitative estimation of enzymes exhibited that T. harzianum produced 299 ± 11a μg mL^-1 of chitinase, 519 ± 19a μg mL^-1 of protease, and 65 ± 12a μg mL^-1 of PR1, and on the other hand, B. bassiana yielded 124 ± 12b, 361 ± 23b, and 29 ± 18b μg mL^-1 of chitinase, protease, and PR1 respectively. It indicated that T. harzianum was superior over the B. bassiana in terms of production capacity of all three enzymes. In conclusion, all the above experimental results suggested that T. harzianum showed better aphid-killing efficacy than B. bassiana. It also suggested that T. harzianum should replace hazardous chemical pesticide (malathion) for eco-friendly biocontrol of aphids.

Structures and Biological Activities of Secondary Metabolites from Trichoderma harzianum

The biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum, from both marine and terrestrial environments, has attracted considerable attention. T. harzianum has a tremendous potential to produce a variety of bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs), which are an important source of new herbicides and antibiotics. This review prioritizes the SMs of T. harzianum from 1988 to June 2022, and their relevant biological activities. Marine-derived SMs, especially terpenoids, polyketides, and macrolides compounds, occupy a significant proportion of natural products from T. harzianum, deserving more of our attention.

Cytotoxic activity of l-lysine alpha-oxidase against leukemia cells

Cancer cells exhibit higher proliferation rates than normal cells, and as a consequence, a higher nutritional demand for metabolites such as amino acids. Such cells demonstrate high expression of amino acid transporters and are significantly dependent on the external uptake of amino acids. Moreover, some types of cancer cells exhibit oncogenic mutations that render them auxotrophic to certain amino acids. This metabolic difference between tumor and normal cells has been explored for developing anticancer drugs. Enzymes capable of depleting certain amino acids in the bloodstream can be employed to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells and promote cell death. Certain microbial enzymes, such as l-asparaginase and l-amino acid oxidases, have been studied for this purpose. In this paper, we discuss the role of l-asparaginase, the only enzyme currently used as a chemotherapeutic agent. We also review the studies on a new potential antineoplastic agent, l-lysine α-oxidase, an enzyme of l-amino acid oxidase family.

Induction of resilience strategies against biochemical deteriorations prompted by severe cadmium stress in sunflower plant when Trichoderma and bacterial inoculation were used as biofertilizers

Background

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal. Its emission is suspected to be further increased due to the dramatic application of ash to agricultural soils and newly reclaimed ones. Thereby, Cd stress encountered by plants will exacerbate. Acute and chronic exposure to Cd can upset plant growth and development and ultimately causes plant death. Microorganisms as agriculturally important biofertilizers have constantly been arising as eco-friendly practices owing to their ability to built-in durability and adaptability mechanisms of plants. However, applying microbes as a biofertilizer agent necessitates the elucidation of the different mechanisms of microbe protection and stabilization of plants against toxic elements in the soil. A greenhouse experiment was performed using Trichoderma harzianum and plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria (Azotobacter chroococcum and Bacillus subtilis) individually and integrally to differentiate their potentiality in underpinning various resilience mechanisms versus various Cd levels (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg of soil). Microorganisms were analyzed for Cd tolerance and biosorption capacity, indoleacetic acid production, and phosphate and potassium solubilization in vitro. Plant growth parameters, water relations, physiological and biochemical analysis, stress markers and membrane damage traits, and nutritional composition were estimated.

Results

Unequivocal inversion from a state of downregulation to upregulation was distinct under microbial inoculations. Inoculating soil with T. harzianum and PGPB markedly enhanced the plant parameters under Cd stress (150 mg/kg) compared with control plants by 4.9% and 13.9%, 5.6% and 11.1%, 55.6% and 5.7%, and 9.1% and 4.6% for plant fresh weight, dry weight, net assimilation rate, and transpiration rate, respectively; by 2.3% and 34.9%, 26.3% and 69.0%, 26.3% and 232.4%, 135.3% and 446.2%, 500% and 95.6%, and 60% and 300% for some metabolites such as starch, amino acids, phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanin, and proline, respectively; by 134.0% and 604.6% for antioxidants including reduced glutathione; and by 64.8% and 91.2%, 21.9% and 72.7%, and 76.7% and 166.7% for enzymes activity including ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, respectively. Whereas a hampering effect mediated by PGP bacterial inoculation was registered on levels of superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, electrolyte leakage, and polyphenol oxidase activity, with a decrease of 0.53%, 14.12%, 2.70%, and 5.70%, respectively, under a highest Cd level (150 mg/kg) compared with control plants. The available soil and plant Cd concentrations were decreased by 11.5% and 47.5%, and 3.8% and 45.0% with T. harzianum and PGP bacterial inoculation, respectively, compared with non-inoculated Cd-stressed plants. Whereas, non-significant alternation in antioxidant capacity of sunflower mediated by T. harzianum action even with elevated soil Cd concentrations indicates stable oxidative status. The uptake of nutrients, viz., K, Ca, Mg, Fe, nitrate, and phosphorus, was interestingly increased (34.0, 4.4, 3.3, 9.2, 30.0, and 1.0 mg/g dry weight, respectively) owing to the synergic inoculation in the presence of 150 mg of Cd/kg.

Conclusions

However, strategies of microbe-induced resilience are largely exclusive and divergent. Biofertilizing potential of T. harzianum showed that, owing to its Cd biosorption capability, a resilience strategy was induced via reducing Cd bioavailability to be in the range that turned its effect from toxicity to essentiality posing well-known low-dose stimulation phenomena (hormetic effect), whereas using Azotobacter chroococcum and Bacillus subtilis, owing to their PGP traits, manifested a resilience strategy by neutralizing the potential side effects of Cd toxicity. The synergistic use of fungi and bacteria proved the highest efficiency in imparting sunflower adaptability under Cd stress.

Iron and zinc micronutrients and soil inoculation of Trichoderma harzianum enhance wheat grain quality and yield

Malnutrition is mainly caused by iron and zinc micronutrient deficiencies affecting about half of the world's population across the globe. Biofortification of staple crops is the right approach to overcome malnutrition and enhance nutrient contents in the daily food of humans. This study aimed to evaluate the role of foliar application of iron and zinc in Trichoderma harzianum treated soil on various growth characteristics, quality, and yield of wheat varieties. Plants were examined in the absence/presence of T. harzianum, and iron and zinc micronutrients in both optimal and high-stress conditions. Although the symbiotic association of T. harzianum and common wheat is utilized as an effective approach for wheat improvement because of the dynamic growth promoting the ability of the fungus, this association was found tremendously effective in the presence of foliar feeding of micronutrients for the enhancement of various growth parameters and quality of wheat. The utilization of this approach positively increased various growth parameters including spike length, grain mass, biomass, harvest index, and photosynthetic pigments. The beneficial role of T. harzianum in combination with zinc and iron in stimulating plant growth and its positive impact on the intensities of high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) alleles make it an interesting approach for application in eco-friendly agricultural systems. Further, this study suggests a possible alternative way that does not merely enhances the wheat yield but also its quality through proper biofortification of iron and zinc to fulfill the daily needs of micronutrients in staple food.

Characterization of a novel recombinant halophilic β-glucosidase of Trichoderma harzianum derived from Hainan mangrove

BACKGROUND

β-glucosidase is an important biomass-degrading enzyme and plays a vital role in generating renewable biofuels through enzymatic saccharification. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome of Trichoderma harzianum HTASA derived from Hainan mangrove and identified a new gene encoding β-glucosidase Bgl3HB. And the biochemically characterization of β-glucosidase activity was performed.

RESULTS

Bgl3HB showed substantial catalytic activity in the pH range of 3.0-5.0 and at temperatures of 40 ℃-60 ℃. The enzyme was found quite stable at 50 ℃ with a loss of only 33.4% relative activity after 240 min of heat exposure. In addition, all tested metal ions were found to promote the enzyme activity. The β-glucosidase activity of Bgl3HB was enhanced by 2.12-fold of its original activity in the presence of 5 M NaCl. Surprisingly, Bgl3HB also showed a remarkable ability to hydrolyze laminarin compared to other measured substrates. Enzyme efficiency was examined in the sugarcane bagasse saccharification processes, in which Bgl3HB with 5 M NaCl worked better supplementing Celluclast 1.5L than the commercial Novozyme 188 ascertained it as an admirably suited biocatalyst for the utilization of agricultural waste. In this work, this is the first report of a halophilic β-glucosidase from Trichoderma harzianum, and represents the β-glucosidase with the highest known NaCl activation concentration. And adding 5 M NaCl could enhance saccharification performance even better than commercial cellulase.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that Bgl3HB has great promise as a highly stable and highly efficient cellulase with important future applications in the industrial production of biofuels.

Efficacy of biological agents and fillers seed coating in improving drought stress in anise

Many plants, including anise, have tiny, non-uniform seeds with low and light nutrient reserves. The seeds also show a weak establishment, especially under stressful conditions where their accurate planting in the soil and optimal yield are tough. This study sought to improve anise seeds' physical and physiological characteristics under drought stress. To this end, two factorial experiments under laboratory and greenhouse conditions were performed in a completely randomized design with 4 and 3 replications, respectively. Five levels of seed inoculation (inoculation with T36 and T43 of Trichoderma harzianum, and CHA0 and B52 of Pseudomonas fluorescent, and non-inoculation which means that control seeds were not treated with microbial inoculant), three levels of coating (K10P20, K10P10V5, and non-coating), and three levels of drought stress (0, -3, and -6 bars) were considered as the factorial experiment [vermiculite (V), kaolin (K), and perlite (P) numbers refer to the amount of material used in grams]. The laboratory experiment revealed that the combined treatments of bio-agents with coating increased the physical and germination characteristics of anise seeds compared to the control treatment. The greenhouse experiment showed that drought stress reduced the initial growth indices. Still, the combination treatments of biological agents and coating (fillers) could alleviate the destructive effects of drought stress to some extent and improve these indices. The best treatment was provided by T36 and K10P20 in both experiments, which significantly increased morphological indices.

In vitro biocontrol of Fusarium oxysporum with antagonistic microorganisms and In vivo effect on Solanum lycopersicum L

The objective was to evaluate the effects of In vitro biocontrol of Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus spp. against Fusarium oxysporum and its in vivo effect on Solanum lycopersicum plants. The antagonistic effect in vitro of microcapsules of Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus spp. against F. oxysporum, was evaluated by inhibition and antagonism classification, in the in vivo part growth variables in plant and fruit were measured. Trichoderma asperellum showed inhibition of 84.7% and class 1 and Bacillus spp., obtained an inhibition of 83.7% with a positive classification. The canonical correspondence analysis of the fruit, the T1 treatment indicates that the variables that highlight the effect of the treatment are the firmness of the fruit and the Brix. The canonical correspondence analysis of the plant, the height presents a significant difference (P < 0.05), highlighting B. subtilis, Bacillus liquefasciens, T. harzianum and T. asperellum + Bacillus amiloliquefasciens, with 1.05 and 1.1 m compared to the control of 74 cm, also highlighted the number of total fruits in the T. harzianum treatment with an average of 22.6 fruits and root weight in B. subtilis with 37.12 g. Strains of Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus spp. successfully inhibited F. oxysporum also induced growth in the tomato plant.

Optimized Synthesis of Small and Stable Silver Nanoparticles Using Intracellular and Extracellular Components of Fungi: An Alternative for Bacterial Inhibition

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) represent an excellent option to solve microbial resistance problems to traditionally used antibiotics. In this work, we report optimized protocols for the production of AgNPs using extracts and supernatants of Trichoderma harzianum and Ganoderma sessile. AgNPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and the hydrodynamic diameter and Z potential were also determined. The obtained AgNPs were slightly larger using the fungal extract, and in all cases, a quasi-spherical shape was obtained. The mean sizes of AgNPs were 9.6 and 19.1 nm for T. harzianum and 5.4 and 8.9 nm for G. sessile using supernatant and extract, respectively. The AgNPs were evaluated to determine their in vitro antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined, and in all cases the AgNPs showed an antimicrobial effect, with a MIC varying from 1.26–5.0 µg/mL, depending on the bacterial strain and type of nanoparticle used. Cytotoxicity analyses of AgNPs were carried out using macrophages and fibroblast cell lines. It was determined that the cell viability of fibroblasts exposed for 24 h to different concentrations of AgNPs was more than 50%, even at concentrations of up to 20 µg/mL of silver. However, macrophages were more susceptible to exposure at higher concentrations of AgNPs as their viability decreased at concentrations of 10 µg/mL. The results presented here demonstrate that small AgNPs are obtained using either supernatants or extracts of both fungal strains. A remarkable result is that very low concentrations of AgNPs were necessary for bacterial inhibition. Furthermore, AgNPs were stable for more than a year, preserving their antibacterial properties. Therefore, the reported optimized protocol using fungal supernatants or extracts may be used as a fast method for synthesizing small AgNPs with high potential to use in the clinic.

Cyanide Biodegradation by Trichoderma harzianum and Cyanide Hydratase Network Analysis

Cyanide is a poisonous and dangerous chemical that binds to metals in metalloenzymes, especially cytochrome C oxidase and, thus, interferes with their functionalities. Different pathways and enzymes are involved during cyanide biodegradation, and cyanide hydratase is one of the enzymes that is involved in such a process. In this study, cyanide resistance and cyanide degradation were studied using 24 fungal strains in order to find the strain with the best capacity for cyanide bioremediation. To confirm the capacity of the tested strains, cyano-bioremediation and the presence of the gene that is responsible for the cyanide detoxification was assessed. From the tested organisms, Trichoderma harzianum (T. harzianum) had a significant capability to resist and degrade cyanide at a 15 mM concentration, where it achieved an efficiency of 75% in 7 days. The gene network analysis of enzymes that are involved in cyanide degradation revealed the involvement of cyanide hydratase, dipeptidase, carbon–nitrogen hydrolase-like protein, and ATP adenylyltransferase. This study revealed that T. harzianum was more efficient in degrading cyanide than the other tested fungal organisms, and molecular analysis confirmed the experimental observations.

Evaluation of ultrasound waves for the production of chitinase and β-1,3 glucanase by Trichoderma harzianum through SSF

Cell wall degrading enzymes (chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase) were produced by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using the fungus Trichoderma harzianum and different agro-industrial products, mainly residues. The influence of temperature (25-35 °C), initial moisture content (50-90% w/w), nutrient solution (1-2% v/w), and yeast extract (1-2% w/w) on enzyme activity was evaluated. The application of ultrasound during fermentation for different times (0-6 h/day) was also studied. White rice was the substrate that showed the highest chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities, which were 31.31 U/g for chitinase and 23.83 U/g for β-1,3-glucanase after 10 days of fermentation. Application of ultrasound waves during fermentation positively affected (p < 0.05) the enzyme activities. The best results for chitinase (51.88 U/g) and β-1,3-glucanase (39.22 U/g) were obtained with a 50% (w/w) moisture content and 4 h/day ultrasound application for 10 days of fermentation. Increases of 3.6-fold (from 14.37 to 51.88 U/g) and 3.8-fold (from 10.22 to 39.22 U/g) in activities for chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase, respectively, compared to non-sonicated fermentation, were obtained. Ultrasound technique associated with the SSF process was a promising alternative to increase the production activity of cell wall degrading enzymes: chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase.

Screening of Cucumber Fusarium Wilt Bio-Inhibitor: High Sporulation Trichoderma harzianum Mutant Cultured on Moso Bamboo Medium

Cucumber fusarium wilt is a soil-borne disease which causes serious production decrease in cucumber cultivation world widely. Extensive using of chemical pesticides has caused serious environmental pollution and economic losses, therefore, it is particularly urgent to develop efficient, safe and pollution-free biopesticide. In this study, a mutant strain of Trichoderma harzianum cultivated in moso bamboo medium was proved to be an efficient bio-inhibitor of the disease. The mutant strain T. harzianum T334, was obtained by three microwave mutagenesis cycles with an irradiation power of 600 W and irradiation time of 40 s. In contrast to the original strain, the inhibition rate on cucumber fusarium wilt of the strain T334 increased from 63 to 78%. In this work, disk milling pretreatment of moso bamboo has shown significant beneficial effects on both biotransformation and sporulation of T334. Its sporulation reached 3.7 × 10⁹ cfu/g in mushroom bags with 90% bamboo stem powder (pretreated by disk milli), 9.5% bamboo leaf powder and 0.5% wheat bran when the ratio of solid to liquid was 4:6, the inoculum amount was 10%, and the culture temperature was 28°C. These results provide an alternative bioinhibitor for the control of cucumber fusarium wilt, and a potential usage of moso bamboo in the production of microbial pesticide.

α-Pyrone and decalin derivatives from the marine-derived fungus Trichoderma harzianum PSU-MF79

Two new compounds, one α-pyrone (trichoharzianone) and one decalin (trichoharzianin), along with eight known compounds including three decalins, two δ-lactones, two carboxylic acids and one isochroman were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Trichoderma harzianum PSU-MF79. The structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. The relative configuration of trichoharzianin was assigned based on NOEDIFF data and coupling constants whereas the absolute configurations were established by comparison of electronic circular dichroism data with those of the co-metabolites. Known (-)-massoia lactone exhibited mild antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC90113 flucytosine-resistant, Candida albicans ATCC90028 and C. albicans NCPF3153 with MIC values of 128, 200 and 200 µg/mL, respectively, and weak cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 and MCF-7 cell lines with the respective IC₅₀ values of 17 and 32 µM. In addition, it was noncytotoxic against noncancerous Vero cells with an IC₅₀ value of >100 µM.

Potential of Trichoderma harzianum and Its Metabolites to Protect Wheat Seedlings against Fusarium culmorum and 2,4-D

Wheat is a critically important crop. The application of fungi, such as Trichoderma harzianum, to protect and improve crop yields could become an alternative solution to synthetic chemicals. However, the interaction between the fungus and wheat in the presence of stress factors at the molecular level has not been fully elucidated. In the present work, we exposed germinating seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to the plant pathogen Fusarium culmorum and the popular herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in the presence of T. harzianum or its extracellular metabolites. Then, the harvested roots and shoots were analyzed using spectrometry, 2D-PAGE, and MALDI-TOF/MS techniques. Although F. culmorum and 2,4-D were found to disturb seed germination and the chlorophyll content, T. harzianum partly alleviated these negative effects and reduced the synthesis of zearalenone by F. culmorum. Moreover, T. harzianum decreased the activity of oxidoreduction enzymes (CAT and SOD) and the contents of the oxylipins 9-Hode, 13-Hode, and 13-Hotre induced by stress factors. Under the influence of various growth conditions, changes were observed in over 40 proteins from the wheat roots. Higher volumes of proteins and enzymes performing oxidoreductive functions, such as catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, cytochrome C peroxidase, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, were found in the Fusarium-inoculated and 2,4-D-treated wheat roots. Additionally, observation of the level of 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase involved in the oxylipin signaling pathway in wheat showed an increase. Trichoderma and its metabolites present in the system leveled out the mentioned proteins to the control volumes. Among the 30 proteins examined in the shoots, the expression of the proteins involved in photosynthesis and oxidative stress response was found to be induced in the presence of the herbicide and the pathogen. In summary, these proteomic and metabolomic studies confirmed that the presence of T. harzianum results in the alleviation of oxidative stress in wheat induced by 2,4-D or F. culmorum.