Effects of Two Trichoderma Strains on Apple Replant Disease Suppression and Plant Growth Stimulation

<i>Fusarium oxysporum</i>, the pathogen responsible for apple replant disease (ARD), is seriously threatening the apple industry globally. We investigated the antagonistic properties of <i>Trichoderma</i> strains against <i>F. oxysporum</i> HS2, aiming to find a biological control solution to minimize the dependence on chemical pesticides. Two of the thirty-one <i>Trichoderma</i> strains assessed through plate confrontation assays, L7 (<i>Trichoderma atroviride</i>) and M19 (<i>T. longibrachiatum</i>), markedly inhibited = <i>F. oxysporum</i>, with inhibition rates of 86.02% and 86.72%, respectively. Applying 1 × 10⁶ spores/mL suspensions of these strains notably increased the disease resistance in embryonic mung bean roots. Strains L7 and M19 substantially protected <i>Malus robusta</i> Rehd apple rootstock from ARD; the plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, chlorophyll content, and defense enzyme activity were higher in the treated plants than in the controls in both greenhouse and field trials. The results of fluorescent labeling confirmed the effective colonization of these strains of the root soil, with the number of spores stabilizing over time. At 56 days after inoculation, the M19 and L7 spore counts in various soils confirmed their persistence. These results underscore the biocontrol potential of L7 and M19 against HS2, offering valuable insights into developing sustainable ARD management practices.