Abiotic stress tolerant, antagonistic Trichoderma spp. as an adaptation strategy for crop disease management under climate change conditions

Abstract

Climate change and climatic variability are major over-riding concerns for Indian agriculture impacting ultimate farm profitability and sustainability.Both biotic and abiotic stresses are influenced by these phenomena. In the current study 13Trichoderma isolates were screened in-vitroat CRIDA - Hyderabad during 2018-2019, for their biotic and abiotic stress tolerance levels.In-vitro antagonistic activity with phytopathogens Macrophominaphaseolina (Mp), Fusariumoxysporumf.sp. ricini (FoR), Rhizoctoniasolani (Rs) and Sclerotiumrolfsii (Sr) revealed that T6,T7,T9,T12 and T13 isolates were most effective against Mp, FoR and Rs with 97-100% inhibition, in Rs T4, T12 and T13 with 69-75% inhibition were found to be best.In plant growth promotion traits, T5 was found to be the highest producer of IAA with 37.9g/mL, T6 and T8 produced the highest amounts of HCN (39.2ppm). Similarly ammonia was produced highest in T5 and T13 while in siderophore production was highest in T10 isolate with 80 SU. Under drought conditions, T3, T12, T11 and T13 isolates were tolerant up to -1.8MPa and in salinity conditionsT6, T12 and T13 isolates were resistant up to 220 dSm-1. T6, T12 and T13 isolates were found to sustain elevated temperatures up to 43°C. Most of the Trichoderma isolates were found to be effective antagonists and abiotic stress tolerant.