The Impact of Mycorrhiza and Trichoderma Treatment on Malondialdehyde Levels and Antioxidant Activity in Common Beans under Drought Stress

As global temperatures rise and drought conditions become increasingly frequent, the need to develop sustainable agricultural practices has become paramount. Enhancing crop resilience to water scarcity is essential to secure food supplies for a growing global population. This study examined the effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma harzianum on the physiological responses and growth of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) under 100% and 50% irrigation regimes. Under a 50% irrigation regime, AMF and Trichoderma harzianum inoculation led to substantial increases in plant height (34.5%) and root length (16.79%), compared to the control. Additionally, significant enhancements were observed in chlorophyll a (175%), chlorophyll b (194%), and total chlorophyll (180%) content in plants subjected to T. harzianum inoculation under water deficit. The application of AMF resulted in an 18% increase in total carotenoid content, showing its efficacy in sustaining photosynthetic pigments. Furthermore, the study revealed that both treatments significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, with reductions of 46.3% compared to the control under drought conditions. Catalase (CAT), increased by 201% with T. harzianum application under full irrigation and by 217% with AMF under reduced irrigation, highlighting the role of these biostimulants in mitigating oxidative stress. Principal component analysis (PCA) further confirmed that these treatments effectively maintained cellular integrity and enhanced stress tolerance. These findings underscore the potential of AMF and T. harzianum as vital tools in enhancing crop resilience against drought, with significant implications for sustainable agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions.