Enhancing sustainable cultivation: the role of plant growth promoting fungi in optimizing Cucumis sativus L. growth

Rhizosphere and root associated fungi, commonly known as plant growth promoting fungi (PGPF), facilitate the growth and productivity of Cucumis sativus L. through the formation of mutualistic relationships with the plant roots. These fungi enhance nutrient uptake, promote root development and bolster stress tolerance via the secretion of growth regulating hormones. Despite numerous PGP fungal species have been isolated from the rhizosphere of C. sativus, their specific roles in modulating various growth parameters of the C. sativus remain insufficiently defined. In the present study, effect of seven PGP fungal species were evaluated such as Penicillium chrysogenum, Paecilomyces variotii, Talaromyces purpureogenus, Paecilomyces brunneolus, Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma viride, and Trichoderma atroviride on the growth parameters of C. sativus. Our results revealed that all PGP fungal species positively influenced growth parameters such as, root length, shoot length, fresh and dry biomass, leaf area, specific leaf area, moisture content, flower number, leaf area ratio, leaf weight ratio and chlorophyll content, albeit with varying degrees of efficiency. Notably, Trichoderma atroviride exhibited a more pronounced impact on plant growth as compared to other PGP fungal species and the control. Our results suggest that these PGP fungal species may contribute to sustainable cultivation practices by enhancing crop yield and reducing the dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.