AUTHOR=Song Mingxia , Lin Xiaoru , Wei Xiaowei , Zeng Qingpan , Mu Chunsheng , Zhou Xiaofu 

TITLE=Trichoderma viride improves phosphorus uptake and the growth of Chloris virgata under phosphorus-deficient conditions

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1425034

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1425034

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Phosphorus (P) readily forms insoluble complexes in soil, thereby inhibiting the absorption and utilization of this essential nutrient by plants. Phosphorus deficiency can significantly impede the growth of forage grass. While <italic>Trichoderma viride</italic> (<italic>T. viride</italic>) has been recognized for promoting the assimilation of otherwise unobtainable nutrients, its impact on P uptake remains understudied. Consequently, it is imperative to gain a more comprehensive insight into the role of <italic>T. viride</italic> in facilitating the uptake and utilization of insoluble P in forage grass.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>This research explored the influence of <italic>T. viride</italic> inoculation on P absorption and the growth of Chloris virgata (<italic>C. virgata</italic>) across various P sources. We treated plants with control P (P), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), calcium phytate (PHY), and low P (LP), with and without <italic>T. viride</italic> inoculation (P+T, TCP+T, PHY+T, LP+T). We analyzed photosynthesis parameters, growth indices, pigment accumulation, P content, leaf acid phosphatase activity.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Results demonstrated that <italic>T. viride</italic> inoculation alleviated inhibition of photosynthesis, reduced leaf acid phosphatase activity, and enhanced growth of <italic>C. virgata</italic> in the presence of insoluble P sources. Additionally, <italic>T. viride</italic> inoculation enabled the plants to extract more available P from insoluble P sources, as evidenced by a substantial increase in P content: shoot P content surged by 58.23 to 59.08%, and root P content rose by 55.13 to 55.2%. Biomass P-use efficiency (PUE) declined by 38% upon inoculation with <italic>T. viride</italic> compared to the non-inoculated insoluble P sources, paralleled by a reduction in photosynthetic P-use efficiency (PPUE) by 26 to 29%. Inoculation under insoluble P sources further triggered a lower allocation to root biomass (25 to 26%) and a higher investment in shoot biomass (74 to 75%). However, its application under low P condition curtailed the growth of <italic>C. virgata</italic>.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>Our results suggest that <italic>T. viride</italic> inoculation represents an innovative approach for plants to acquire available P from insoluble P sources, thereby promoting growth amid environmental P limitations. This insight is crucial for comprehending the synergy among forage grass, P, and <italic>T. viride</italic>.</p></sec>