Effects of pH, temperature, water activity and electrical conductivity on the biocontrol activity of Trichoderma spp. for enhanced biocontrol efficacy in agriculture

Trichoderma spp. is widely recognized and employed as effective biocontrol agents, providing a natural approach to managing plant diseases. These fungi, commonly found in soil, utilize multiple mechanisms to suppress plant pathogens, making them important tools in sustainable agriculture. However, the biocontrol efficacy of Trichoderma spp. is influenced by several environmental factors that impact their growth, sporulation and antagonistic activity against phytopathogens. This research investigates how abiotic factors such as pH, temperature, water activity (aw) and electrical conductivity (EC) affect the efficacy of Trichoderma spp. as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens. Controlled laboratory tests were evaluated for conidial production, growth rates and morphological changes under varying environmental conditions. The results indicated that the ideal water activity (aw 0.985) and temperature (25 °C) considerably increased conidial production and biomass growth. A pH level of 6.5 and an EC of 12.92 dS/m were identified as ideal conditions for optimal growth and sporulation. These results underscore the importance of environmental factors in improving the effectiveness of Trichoderma spp., offering actionable suggestions to enhance its use as a biocontrol agent across diverse farming systems, while also recognizing the importance of these factors in improving the large-scale production of T. harzianum for both agricultural and industrial purposes, especially in biocontrol application.