Determination of the efficacy of Trichoderma koningii and Rhizophagus irregularis against Fusarium wilt disease in tomato

This study investigated the potential of Trichoderma koningii and Rhizophagus irregularis as environmentally friendly as an alternative to chemical control for Fusarium wilt disease in tomato under greenhouse conditions. The research focused on how these T. koningii and R. irregularis interacted and their impact on plant growth and disease resistance. T. koningii alone significantly reduced disease severity (DS = 0.83; DSI = 29.33%) compared to the control group infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL). However, the most effective protection came from combining both T. koningii and R. irregularis (DS = 0.33; DSI = 14.33%), achieving a level comparable to healthy controls. This combined treatment not only displayed superior disease resistance but also showed the highest chlorophyll content (Chl a = 5.62 mg g-1 Fresh Weight; Chl b = 3.11 mg g-1 Fresh Weight; Chl T = 8.74 mg g-1 Fresh Weight), indicating a stronger ability to counteract the chlorophyll degradation caused by FOL infection. Furthermore, tomato plants co-inoculated with T. koningii and R. irregularis exhibited the most robust antioxidant response, evident in significantly higher activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase = 46.17 units g-1 ml-1 min-1, peroxidase activity = 5.66 units g-1 ml-1 min-1, and catalase activity = 104.42 units g-1 ml-1 min-1) and total phenolic content (3.14 mg g-1). These findings suggest that the combined application of T. koningii and R. irregularis has the potential to be a more effective and environmentally friendly strategy for managing Fusarium wilt disease and promoting overall plant health in tomato compared to using either T. koningii or R. irregularis alone.