Evaluation of the antagonistic and antitoxigenic effects of selected Trichoderma strains against toxigenic fungus associated with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L)

Fusarium verticillioides is an important phytopathogenic fungus that infects tomato fruits and produces the mycotoxin fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ), posing significant threats to crop productivity and food safety. This study evaluated the antagonistic, plant growth-promoting and antitoxigenic potential of indigenous Trichoderma strains against a toxigenic F. verticillioides isolate associated with tomato production. Four rhizosphere-derived Trichoderma strains were identified by ITS sequencing as Trichoderma viride Pr-1, T. viride Sc-1, T. viride Trico, and T. asperellum M23. The pathogen isolated from diseased tomato fruits was identified as Fusarium verticillioides Old3. Antagonistic activity was evaluated using dual-culture assays, while greenhouse experiments assessed plant growth, reproductive performance, and FB 1 accumulation in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. UC82B. Plants inoculated with two concentrations (C1 and C2; 1 × 10 5 and 1 × 10 7 spores mL − 1 , respectively) and treated with the Trichoderma strains FB 1 concentrations in tomato seeds were quantified using Liquid chromatography-mass (LC-MS/MS). In dual culture assays, all Trichoderma strains significantly inhibited the growth of F. verticillioides , with Pr-1 and Trico exhibiting the highest inhibition rates of 80% and 78%, respectively. Greenhouse evaluation showed that F. verticillioides infection significantly reduced tomato growth and biomass accumulation, whereas Trichoderma treatments markedly improved vegetative growth and reproductive performance. Among the treatments, Pr-1C2 produced the tallest plants (24.10 cm), while TricoC2 resulted in the largest leaf area (19.65 cm2). The greatest fruit weight was recorded in Sc-1C2 (18.77 g), whereas Pr-1C1 produced the highest shoot biomass (11.11 g) and root biomass (9.78 g). Analysis of tomato seeds revealed significant differences in FB1 accumulation among treatments. Plants inoculated with F. verticillioides alone (Old3C1 and Old3C2) contained the highest FB1 concentrations (34.91 and 38.01 µg kg− 1) respectively, whereas co-inoculation with T. asperellum M23 completely eliminated detectable FB1 (0.00 µg kg− 1). The remaining Trichoderma treatments also significantly reduced FB1 accumulation relative to the pathogen-only control. Indigenous Trichoderma strains effectively suppressed F. verticillioides , enhanced tomato growth and productivity, and reduced fumonisin contamination. Trichoderma viride Pr-1 exhibited the greatest antagonistic and plant growth -producing and whereas T. asperellum M23 was the most effective in eliminating detectable FB1 accumulation. These findings demonstrate the potential of native Trichoderma isolates as environmentally sustainable biocontrol agents for improving tomato productivity while enhancing food safety through the mitigation of mycotoxin contamination.