By Katie Bohn
Trichoderma species — a common fungus found in soils — have varying abilities to promote tomato plant growth and differentially affect the abundance of certain soil bacteria, according to a study led by researchers at Penn State.
The work was the latest in a line of research evaluating the use of this common group of fungi as an alternative to pesticides for controlling soilborne pathogens, said Seogchan Kang, professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences and co-corresponding author of the study.
Published in the journal The Microbe, the study also found that certain bacteria in the rhizosphere — the area of the soil directly surrounding the roots — may influence the plant growth-promoting ability of Trichoderma by affecting the fungus’s abundance and persistence in the soil.
Kang said the research is part of his lab’s efforts to help ensure the effectiveness, predictability and wide adoption of biological controls for fighting soilborne diseases as an alternative to pesticides.
“Certain fungi and bacteria not only protect plants from diseases but also enhance plant stress tolerance and growth,” Kang said. “Many studies have reported the successful use of such microbes as biological control agents, and some have been commercialized. However, their use has faced several hurdles and pitfalls, which have eroded confidence in using them among some growers.”
Farmers face multiple complex challenges that threaten the profitability and viability of their operations, the researchers said, which also threaten their ability to supply safe, nutritious and affordable food.
Source : psu.edu