Application of Trichoderma harzianum enhances salt tolerance and yield of Indian mustard through increasing antioxidant enzyme activity

Kartik Chandra Saha; Md Kafil Uddin; Pallab Kumer Shaha; Md Akhter Hossain Chowdhury; Lutful Hassan; Biplob Kumar Saha

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41114

Application of Trichoderma harzianum enhances salt tolerance and yield of Indian mustard through increasing antioxidant enzyme activity

Heliyon. 2024 Dec 10;11(1):e41114. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41114. eCollection 2025 Jan 15.

Authors

Kartik Chandra Saha¹, Md Kafil Uddin¹, Pallab Kumer Shaha², Md Akhter Hossain Chowdhury¹, Lutful Hassan³, Biplob Kumar Saha¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, 2202, Bangladesh.
² Ramdeb Khabir Uddin College, Matinpur, Sundarganj, Gaibandha, 5721, Bangladesh.
³ Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, 2202, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Growth and yield reduction of crops due to salt stress have become a serious issue worldwide. Trichoderma is very well known as a plant growth-promoting fungi under abiotic stress conditions. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effect of Trichoderma harzianum on the growth, yield, nutrient uptake, and antioxidant activity of three Indian mustard genotypes under saline condition (EC 9.28 dS m^-1). A two-factorial (Trichoderma and Indian mustard genotypes) pot experiment was conducted following a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replicates. Trichoderma was applied to soil as compost and suspension. The BD-7104 genotype showed better performance than Tori-7 under saline conditions. Compared to control, application of T. harzianum showed better performance in enhancing growth and yield of all the genotypes by increasing plants' tolerance to salt stress. Again, Trichoderma application increased the chlorophyll, proline, and oil content of Indian mustard. The generation of antioxidant enzymes viz., SOD, CAT, APX, and POD was significantly increased and, synthesis of H₂O₂ and MDA was decreased to a variable degree under different Trichoderma treatments. On average, application of Trichoderma as compost enhanced seed yield by 23 % than control. The better growth and yield in Trichoderma treated plants were the results of better uptake and assimilation of N, P, S, Ca, Mg, and K and reduced uptake of Na with a lower Na/K. Overall, BD-7104 genotype can be grown in soil treated with Trichoderma as compost at a rate of TdC_12.5 for obtaining better yield and nutritional quality under salinity stress condition.

Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; Nutrient concentration; Soil salinity; Trichoderma harzianum; Yield of Indian mustard.