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Kredics L, Büchner R, Balázs D, Allaga H, Kedves O, Racić G, Varga A, Nagy VD, Vágvölgyi C, Sipos G. Recent advances in the use of Trichoderma-containing multicomponent microbial inoculants for pathogen control and plant growth promotion. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:162. [PMID: 38613584 PMCID: PMC11015995 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03965-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Chemical pesticides and fertilizers are used in agricultural production worldwide to prevent damage from plant pathogenic microorganisms, insects, and nematodes, to minimize crop losses and to preserve crop quality. However, the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers can severely pollute soil, water, and air, posing risks to the environment and human health. Consequently, developing new, alternative, environment-friendly microbial soil treatment interventions for plant protection and crop yield increase has become indispensable. Members of the filamentous fungal genus Trichoderma (Ascomycota, Sordariomycetes, Hypocreales) have long been known as efficient antagonists of plant pathogenic microorganisms based on various beneficial traits and abilities of these fungi. This minireview aims to discuss the advances in the field of Trichoderma-containing multicomponent microbiological inoculants based on recent experimental updates. Trichoderma strains can be combined with each other, with other fungi and/or with beneficial bacteria. The development and field performance of such inoculants will be addressed, focusing on the complementarity, synergy, and compatibility of their microbial components.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Kredics
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary.
| | - Rita Büchner
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Dóra Balázs
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Henrietta Allaga
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Kedves
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Gordana Racić
- Faculty of Ecological Agriculture, Educons University, Vojvode Putnika 87, Sremska Kamenica, 21208, Serbia
| | - András Varga
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Viktor Dávid Nagy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Csaba Vágvölgyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - György Sipos
- Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Forest and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of Sopron, Sopron, 9400, Hungary
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Sharma I, Raina A, Choudhary M, Apra, Kaul S, Dhar MK. Fungal endophyte bioinoculants as a green alternative towards sustainable agriculture. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19487. [PMID: 37662754 PMCID: PMC10472071 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past half century, limited use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and conservation of the environment and natural resources have become the interdependent goals of sustainable agriculture. These practices support agriculture sustainability with less environmental and climatic impacts. Therefore, there is an upsurge in the need to introduce compatible booster methods for maximizing net production. The best straightforward strategy is to explore and utilize plant-associated beneficial microorganisms and their products. Bioinoculants are bioformulations consisting of selected microbial strains on a suitable carrier used in the enhancement of crop production. Fungal endophytes used as bioinoculants confer various benefits to the host, such as protection against pathogens by eliciting immune response, mineralization of essential nutrients, and promoting plant growth. Besides, they also produce various bioactive metabolites, phytohormones, and volatile organic compounds. To design various bioformulations, transdisciplinary approaches like genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and microbiome modulation strategies like gene editing and metabolic reconstruction have been explored. These studies will refine the existing knowledge on the diversity, phylogeny and beneficial traits of the microbes. This will also help in synthesizing microbial consortia by evaluating the role of structural and functional elements of communities in a controlled manner. The present review summarizes the beneficial aspects associated with fungal endophytes for capitalizing agricultural outputs, enlists various multi-omics techniques for understanding and modulating the mechanism involved in endophytism and the generation of new bioformulations for providing novel solutions for the enhancement of crop production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itika Sharma
- Fungal Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180006, India
| | - Ashish Raina
- Fungal Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180006, India
| | - Malvi Choudhary
- Fungal Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180006, India
| | - Apra
- Fungal Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180006, India
| | - Sanjana Kaul
- Fungal Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180006, India
| | - Manoj K. Dhar
- Plant Genome Research Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180006, India
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Nagy VD, Zhumakayev A, Vörös M, Bordé Á, Szarvas A, Szűcs A, Kocsubé S, Jakab P, Monostori T, Škrbić BD, Mohai E, Hatvani L, Vágvölgyi C, Kredics L. Development of a Multicomponent Microbiological Soil Inoculant and Its Performance in Sweet Potato Cultivation. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11040914. [PMID: 37110337 PMCID: PMC10143537 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11040914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The cultivation and consumption of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) are increasing globally. As the usage of chemical fertilizers and pest control agents during its cultivation may lead to soil, water and air pollution, there is an emerging need for environment-friendly, biological solutions enabling increased amounts of healthy crop and efficient disease management. Microbiological agents for agricultural purposes gained increasing importance in the past few decades. Our goal was to develop an agricultural soil inoculant from multiple microorganisms and test its application potential in sweet potato cultivation. Two Trichoderma strains were selected: Trichoderma ghanense strain SZMC 25217 based on its extracellular enzyme activities for the biodegradation of plant residues, and Trichoderma afroharzianum strain SZMC 25231 for biocontrol purposes against fungal plant pathogens. The Bacillus velezensis strain SZMC 24986 proved to be the best growth inhibitor of most of the nine tested strains of fungal species known as plant pathogens, therefore it was also selected for biocontrol purposes against fungal plant pathogens. Arthrobacter globiformis strain SZMC 25081, showing the fastest growth on nitrogen-free medium, was selected as a component with possible nitrogen-fixing potential. A Pseudomonas resinovorans strain, SZMC 25872, was selected for its ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid, which is among the important traits of potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). A series of experiments were performed to test the selected strains for their tolerance to abiotic stress factors such as pH, temperature, water activity and fungicides, influencing the survivability in agricultural environments. The selected strains were used to treat sweet potato in two separate field experiments. Yield increase was observed for the plants treated with the selected microbial consortium (synthetic community) in comparison with the control group in both cases. Our results suggest that the developed microbial inoculant has the potential to be used in sweet potato plantations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about the successful application of a fungal-bacterial consortium in sweet potato cultivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Dávid Nagy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Anuar Zhumakayev
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mónika Vörös
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ádám Bordé
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, Andrássy Street 15, 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
| | - Adrienn Szarvas
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, Andrássy Street 15, 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
| | - Attila Szűcs
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Sándor Kocsubé
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Péter Jakab
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, Andrássy Street 15, 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
| | - Tamás Monostori
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, Andrássy Street 15, 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
| | - Biljana D. Škrbić
- Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Edina Mohai
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Lóránt Hatvani
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csaba Vágvölgyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Kredics
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
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Dachowski R, Stepien A. Effect of Organic Compounds on the Special Properties and the Microstructure of Autoclaved Brick. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3490. [PMID: 36834185 PMCID: PMC9959702 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
After a long decomposition process, organic matter turns into humic substances. In humus, carbon dioxide (CO2) bound in photosynthesis is brought back to the soil, where it should be used by its ecosystem. This is important because similar relationships are found in modern concretes and concretes designed with the use of geochemical modeling (possibility of the C-S-H phase for storing harmful substances). The aim of the article was to investigate the possibility of using humus (Humus Active-HA) and vermicompost (Biohumus Extra Universal-BEU), i.e., organic matter resulting from a long process of biological decomposition in the production of autoclaved bricks containing only ecological materials, i.e., sand, lime, and water. Tests of compressive strength, density, microstructure based on SEM, XRD, and micro-CT analysis were performed. The results of the research indicate that humus and vermicompost can be successfully used in their production. The paper compares traditional products and products made of raw material mass containing 3%, 7%, and 11% of humus and vermicompost, using the apparatus of mathematical experiment planning. Compressive strength, volumetric density, water absorption, and wicking, porosity, and material microstructure were tested. The best results were obtained for samples with the addition of 7% humus and 3% vermicompost. The compressive strength increased to 42.04 MPa (compared to standard bricks, whose strength is 15-20 MPa), and the bulk density increased by about 55%, to the value of 2.11 kg/dm3, which indicates the densification of the material's microstructure. They were characterized by the highest compressive strength, moderate water absorption, and a high proportion of closed pores in the sample.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Stepien
- Civil Engineering and Architecture Department, Kielce University of Technology, 25-314 Kielce, Poland
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Sani MNH, Yong JWH. Harnessing Synergistic Biostimulatory Processes: A Plausible Approach for Enhanced Crop Growth and Resilience in Organic Farming. BIOLOGY 2021; 11:biology11010041. [PMID: 35053039 PMCID: PMC8773105 DOI: 10.3390/biology11010041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Demand for organically grown crops has risen globally due to its healthier and safer food products. From a sustainability perspective, organic farming offers an eco-friendly cultivation system that minimizes agrochemicals and producing food with little or no environmental footprint. However, organic agriculture’s biggest drawback is the generally lower and variable yield in contrast to conventional farming. Compatible with organic farming, the selective use of biostimulants can close the apparent yield gap between organic and conventional cultivation systems. A biostimulant is defined as natural microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) or biologically active substances that are able to improve plant growth and yield through several processes. Biostimulants are derived from a range of natural resources including organic materials (composts, seaweeds), manures (earthworms, fish, insects) and extracts derived from microbes, plant, insect or animal origin. The current trend is indicative that a mixture of biostimulants is generally delivering better growth, yield and quality rather than applying biostimulant individually. When used correctly, biostimulants are known to help plants cope with stressful situations like drought, salinity, extreme temperatures and even certain diseases. More research is needed to understand the different biostimulants, key components, and also to adjust the formulations to improve their reliability in the field. Abstract Demand for organically grown food crops is rising substantially annually owing to their contributions to human health. However, organic farm production is still generally lower compared to conventional farming. Nutrient availability, content consistency, uptake, assimilation, and crop responses to various stresses were reported as critical yield-limiting factors in many organic farming systems. In recent years, plant biostimulants (BSs) have gained much interest from researchers and growers, and with the objective of integrating these products to enhance nutrient use efficiency (NUE), crop performance, and delivering better stress resilience in organic-related farming. This review gave an overview of direct and indirect mechanisms of microbial and non-microbial BSs in enhancing plant nutrient uptake, physiological status, productivity, resilience to various stressors, and soil-microbe-plant interactions. BSs offer a promising, innovative and sustainable strategy to supplement and replace agrochemicals in the near future. With greater mechanistic clarity, designing purposeful combinations of microbial and non-microbial BSs that would interact synergistically and deliver desired outcomes in terms of acceptable yield and high-quality products sustainably will be pivotal. Understanding these mechanisms will improve the next generation of novel and well-characterized BSs, combining microbial and non-microbial BSs strategically with specific desired synergistic bio-stimulatory action, to deliver enhanced plant growth, yield, quality, and resilience consistently in organic-related cultivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Nasir Hossain Sani
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2DG, UK
- Correspondence: (M.N.H.S.); (J.W.H.Y.)
| | - Jean W. H. Yong
- Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 234 56 Alnarp, Sweden
- Correspondence: (M.N.H.S.); (J.W.H.Y.)
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Del Frari G, Ferreira RB. Microbial Blends: Terminology Overview and Introduction of the Neologism "Skopobiota". Front Microbiol 2021; 12:659592. [PMID: 34276594 PMCID: PMC8283781 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.659592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Del Frari
- LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food-Research Center, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Boavida Ferreira
- LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food-Research Center, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Vassileva M, Malusà E, Sas-Paszt L, Trzcinski P, Galvez A, Flor-Peregrin E, Shilev S, Canfora L, Mocali S, Vassilev N. Fermentation Strategies to Improve Soil Bio-Inoculant Production and Quality. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1254. [PMID: 34207668 PMCID: PMC8229917 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The application of plant beneficial microorganisms has been widely accepted as an efficient alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Isolation and selection of efficient microorganisms, their characterization and testing in soil-plant systems are well studied. However, the production stage and formulation of the final products are not in the focus of the research, which affects the achievement of stable and consistent results in the field. Recent analysis of the field of plant beneficial microorganisms suggests a more integrated view on soil inoculants with a special emphasis on the inoculant production process, including fermentation, formulation, processes, and additives. This mini-review describes the different groups of fermentation processes and their characteristics, bearing in mind different factors, both nutritional and operational, which affect the biomass/spores yield and microbial metabolite activity. The characteristics of the final products of fermentation process optimization strategies determine further steps of development of the microbial inoculants. Submerged liquid and solid-state fermentation processes, fed-batch operations, immobilized cell systems, and production of arbuscular mycorrhiza are presented and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Recommendations for further development of the fermentation strategies for biofertilizer production are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vassileva
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, C/Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (M.V.); (A.G.); (E.F.-P.)
| | - Eligio Malusà
- The National Institute of Horticultural Research, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland; (E.M.); (L.S.-P.); (P.T.)
| | - Lidia Sas-Paszt
- The National Institute of Horticultural Research, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland; (E.M.); (L.S.-P.); (P.T.)
| | - Pawel Trzcinski
- The National Institute of Horticultural Research, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland; (E.M.); (L.S.-P.); (P.T.)
| | - Antonia Galvez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, C/Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (M.V.); (A.G.); (E.F.-P.)
| | - Elena Flor-Peregrin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, C/Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (M.V.); (A.G.); (E.F.-P.)
| | - Stefan Shilev
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology, University of Agriculture-Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
| | - Loredana Canfora
- Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 00184 Roma, Italy; (L.C.); (S.M.)
| | - Stefano Mocali
- Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 00184 Roma, Italy; (L.C.); (S.M.)
| | - Nikolay Vassilev
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, C/Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (M.V.); (A.G.); (E.F.-P.)
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
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Knežević M, Berić T, Buntić A, Delić D, Nikolić I, Stanković S, Stajković-Srbinović O. Potential of root nodule nonrhizobial endophytic bacteria for growth promotion of Lotus corniculatus L. and Dactylis glomerata L. J Appl Microbiol 2021; 131:2929-2940. [PMID: 34003543 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS This research aimed to isolate and characterize nonrhizobial endophytic bacteria from root nodules of Medicago sativa L. and Lotus corniculatus L. with plant growth-promoting characteristics and to test its activity in a pot experiment with acid soil. METHODS AND RESULTS Out of 44 nonrhizobial isolates, the majority exhibited indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production; 29 produced siderophores, few isolates performed phosphate solubilization and/or produced lytic enzymes, while 30% of isolates showed notable antifungal activity. The most promising strains were identified as members of Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Serratia genera, based on 16S rRNA. Bacillus megaterium DZK1BH exhibited the overall best attributes for plant growth promotion and positively influenced the growth of L. corniculatus and Dactylis glomerata. CONCLUSIONS Root nodule endophytic B. megaterium DZK1BH could potentially be used as a biofertilizer for growing L. corniculatus L. and D. glomerata L. in acid soils, while Bacillus mojavensis L3 is a candidate for further antifungal potential investigation. SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT OF THE STUDY The use of root nodule endophytic bacteria with PGP traits may find its future application in organic agriculture, as their utilization could decrease the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and simultaneously promote plant growth, especially in soils with low production quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Knežević
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - T Berić
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - A Buntić
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - D Delić
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - I Nikolić
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - S Stanković
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Role of Trichoderma aggressivum f. europaeum as Plant-Growth Promoter in Horticulture. AGRONOMY-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/agronomy10071004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to determine the capacity of Trichoderma aggressivum f. europaeum to promote pepper and tomato seedling growth compared to that of T. saturnisporum, a species recently characterised as a biostimulant. Consequently, in vitro seed germination and seedling growth tests were performed under commercial plant nursery conditions. Additionally, the effects of different doses and a mixture of both species on seedling growth under plant nursery and subsequently under greenhouse conditions were determined. Furthermore, mass production of spores was determined in different substrates, and their siderophore and indole acetic acid production and phosphate (P) solubilisation capacity were also determined. Direct application of Trichoderma aggressivum f. europaeum to seeds in vitro neither increases the percentage of pepper and tomato seed germination nor improves their vigour index. However, substrate irrigation using different doses under commercial plant nursery conditions increases the quality of tomato and pepper seedlings. Tomato roots increased by 66.66% at doses of 106 spores per plant. Applying T. aggressivum f. europaeum or T. saturnisporum under plant nursery conditions added value to seedlings because their growth-promoting effect is maintained under greenhouse conditions up to three months after transplantation. The combined application of the two species had no beneficial effect in relation to that of the control. The present study demonstrates the biostimulant capacity of T. aggressivum f. europaeum in pepper and tomato plants under commercial plant nursery and greenhouse conditions.
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