AUTHOR=Matar Naeif , Macadré Catherine , Ammar Gamal A. G. , Peres Alexis , Collet Boris , Boustany Naim El , Rajjou Loïc , As-Sadi Falah , Dufresne Marie , Ratet Pascal 

TITLE=Identification of beneficial Lebanese Trichoderma spp. wheat endophytes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.1017890

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.1017890

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world. Its production can be influenced by a diversity of beneficial and pathogenic rhizospheric microbes, including fungi. Amongst them, beneficial <italic>Trichoderma</italic> spp. can be used as alternatives to chemical fertilizers, as they are cheap and harmless to the environment. Our study aimed to isolate, identify, and characterize <italic>Trichoderma</italic> spp. from Lebanon associated with wheat. Two <italic>Trichoderma</italic> strains belonging to <italic>T. afroharzianum</italic>, and <italic>T. guizhouense</italic> species, were isolated and found to be endophytes, enhancing root growth and producing Indole-3-acetic acid. Inoculation also improved seedling development, and increased plant growth and yield. Furthermore, the two strains inhibit Fusarium growth <italic>in vitro</italic>. These <italic>Trichoderma</italic> spp. have thus the capacity to be used as organic fertilizers for wheat.</p>