Improved seedling emergence and growth of maize and beans by Trichoderma harziunum

Mejoramiento de la germinación y crecimiento del maíz y frijol por Trichoderma harzianum

Sheila A. Okoth¹*, Jane A. Otadoh² and James O. Ochanda²

¹ University of Nairobi, School of Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 30197 - 00100, Nairobi. Kenya * Corresponding author * Email: dorisokoth@yahoo.com

Submitted February 15, 2010
Accepted May 25, 2010
Revised received June 16, 2010

Abstract

An indigenous strain of Trichoderma spp. was tested for its ability to promote seed germination and growth of maize and bean seedlings grown in the field at Embu District, Kenya. The trial was carried out for three seasons with the following treatments; two types of fertilizers, cow manure, and Trichoderma seed coat. Seedlings were counted 14 days after emergence from soil and a sample gently uprooted using a spade. Shoot height, root length, stem and root diameter measurements were taken. Trichoderma inoculation significantly increased rate of maize seed germination but had no effect on emergence of bean seedlings. Maize seeds coated with Trichoderma inoculum and planted on soils without fertilizer addition recorded the highest germination rate of 82.7% followed by seeds coated with the inoculum and planted in soils treated with manure (82.2%). Combination of the inoculum and fertilizer performed better at improving maize seed germination compared with fertilizers applied singly. This was the case for shoot and root growth. Seeds coated with the inoculum and planted in soils ammended with Triple Superphosphate and Calcium Ammonium Nitrate recorded the greatest shoot and root growth in both maize and beans. Increased growth of shoot and root caused by Trichoderma implied that there was beneficial effect of inoculation on plant growth and development since root collar and stem diameters were a measure of survivability of seedlings.

Key words: Growth-promoting effect; Trichoderma spp.; fertilizers; inoculum.

Seed germination and seedling establishment are determined by several factors including quality of seeds and environmental factors. Within the environment of the seed and seedling are physical, chemical and biological factors that influence growth.

The rhizosphere, is relatively rich in nutrients, because as much as 40% of plant photo synthetic products are exudates from roots (Bais et al, 2006). Consequently the rhizosphere supports large microbial populations capable of exerting beneficial, neutral, or detrimental effects on plant growth. Trichoderma species are free-living fungi that are common in soil and root ecosystems. They have been widely studied for their capacity to enhance plant growth, produce antibiotics, parasitize other fungi, and compete with deleterious plant microorganisms (Adams et al, 2007; Chang et al, 1986; Harman et al, 2004a,; Yedidia et al, 2001). The effectiveness of the use of microorganisms as biofertilisers and biocontrols however, is determined by a myriad of factors including virulence of the isolate, environmental factors, time of application, ability to survive in the environments other than their origin and colonize plants roots during certain period of time to control plant pathogens (Kredrics et al, 2003; Nemec et al, 1996; Stephan et al, 2005; Vinale et al, 2008 ) suggesting that augmenting of a local virulent strain would be more successful. This experiment was performed with an indigenous strain of Trichoderma harziunum to test whether it has an effect on germination rate and growth of maize and bean seedlings in Embu district, Kenya. Root rots, damping-off before and after seedling emergence, and seed rots of maize and beans caused by Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Macrophomina have been reported as a major problem in this region (Mwangombe et al, 2007). The desire for a more sustainable approach to agriculture, concerns about the impact of synthetic agrichemicals on human health and the environment, the high frequency of pathogen populations resistant to commonly used fungicides, the increasing cost of soil fumigation, and the continued search for methyl bromide alternatives has led to increased interest in the application of biological control for plant disease management. Hence the search for effect indigenous virulent microbial strains.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study site

The study was carried out in Embu District located within the Mount Kenya region bounded by longitudes 37° 18' East and Latitudes 0° S and 0° 28'S. The central point of the study area is transversed by Longitude 37° 28' East and Latitude 0° 20' S. The main land use systems are natural forest (Irangi forest), tea, coffee, mixed small-scale cultivation of food crops, dairy cattle rearing and semi-extensive livestock production.

Preparation and application of formulated Trichoderma harziunum inoculum

Indegenous Trichoderma harziunum strain initially isolated from the study site (BGBD Project benchmark site in Embu) (Okoth et al., 2007) and evaluated in vitro for antagonistic actions against Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp lycopersici F. oxysporum f. sp phaseoli and F. graminearum was used as a seed coat in this experiment.

The formulation was used as a dry seed treatment where 2g of the formulation was mixed with 1 kg of seeds and treated with 4ml of gum Arábica solution (30g/300ml) as sticker onto the seed. The seeds of maize and beans were surface-sterilized by rinsing thoroughly in sterile distilled water, rolled with the formulation and planted immediately. Seeds treated with sterile distilled water served as control.

Field Trial to test effect of Trichoderma on seed germination and growth

Field trials were done in Kibugu and Ndunduri locations in Embu. The experiment was laid out at the ATC in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCD) with treatments replicated 5 times. These treatments were further replicated on farm on 12 slit plots, 6 in each location, to nullify the effect of heterogeneity of farms. The farms were 500m apart to avoid autocorrelation (Groupe and Theriault Consultants, 1984). Each treatment was a stretch of 5 x 10m. The test crops were maize intercropped with beans. The maize type was hybrid (H516) with spacing of 90 x 30cm and planting done with two seeds per hole. Bean type was Mwezi moja with spacing of 75 x 25 cm and planted two seeds per hole. The treatments were Triple Superphosphate combined with Calcium ammonium nitrate (TSP + CAN), Mavuno (blend of fertilizer containing 11 nutrients), Cow manure, and Trichoderma seed coating (Table 1). The fertilizers were added by broadcasting during planting and top dressing of CAN, TSP and Mavuno done after first round of weeding. Planting was done during the long rains which occur between March and May and short rains between October and December. The on station experiments were researcher managed while on farm trials were farmer managed.

Seedlings were counted 14 days after emergence. From each hole, one seedling was dug out using a spade and the following parameters measured; plant shoot/stem height was measured from soil surface to apical buds using a ruler. Stem/root caliper width measurement was also recorded.

Statistical Analysis

RESULTS

Stimulative effect of Trichoderma spp. on seed germination

Germination rates of maize and beans planted in soils amended differently are shown in Fig 1 and 2. For maize, the effects were highly significant at p < 0,001 with f- value of 4.716. The highest rate of seedling emergence was 82.7% for seeds treated with Trichoderma inoculum followed by 82.2% for seeds coated with the inoculum and planted in soil amended with manure followed by 78.4% for seeds coated with Trichoderma and planted in soils amended with Mavuno fertilizer. Plots treated with TSP and CAN without the seed coat recorded the least germination rate (57.7%) followed by control (70.3%).

Treatment of bean seedlings with Trichoderma did not influence rate of germination significantly (p = 0.687; f-value = 0.683) though differences were observed with Manure treatment recording the highest germination rate of 74.9% followed by Manwe+Trichoderma (74.0%) and Trichoderma seed coat alone (73.4%) (Figure 2). Control plots and those treated with TSP and CAN scored the least (69.6%).

The effect of soil amendments on bean growth was highly significant at pO.0001 with f value of 9.023, 3.805, 8.378 and 15.564 for root collar and length, stem diameter and length respectively. Plots treated with TSP/CAN recorded the highest values of root size and stem diameter followed by TSP+CAN+Trichoderma , Mavuno+Trichoderma and Mavuno (Tables 4,5). Again like in maize the combination treatments of fertilizer with Trichoderma performed better than single fertilizer or inoculum application. Though TSP+CAN performed the best for beans Tukey's HSD grouped the performance of TSP+CAN as equal to TSP+CAN+Trichoderma, Mavano+Trichoderma and Manme+Trichoderma.

Effect of Trichoderma and soil fertility amendments on maize and bean growth

All the fertilizers and inoculum had positive effect on maize growth. The variables that were measured were all greater for the treatment compared to the control. This difference was highly significant at pO.0001 with f value of 13.149, 12.748, 7.612, and 17.115 for root collar diameter, root length, stem diameter and stem length respectively. Effect of Trichoderma on maize plant development was obvious with plots treated with TSP and CAN + Trichoderma recording the largest root and stem diameter and stem length followed by TSP and Mavuno+ Trichoderma fertilizers (Table 2,3) All the fertilizers performed better when combined with Trichoderma inoculum than when applied singly. Control plots recorded the smallest size of plants. Among the fertilizers manure performed the least close to control and Tuky's HSD grouped it with control.

DISCUSSION

Trichoderma increased the rate of germination of maize and seedling growth of both maize and beans. The increased root length and collar diameter, stem length and diameter by Trichoderma treatment are measures of seedling's survivability and illustrate the direct effect of the fungus on the plants. A number of mechanisms for plant growth promotion by Trichoderma have been proposed (Harman et a. I, 2004a; Jaleed et ai, 1988). These include production of antibiotics, parasitization of other fungi, and competition with deleterious plant microorganisms. Until recently, these traits were considered to be the basis for how Trichoderma exerted beneficial effects on plant growth and development. However it is becoming increasingly clear that certain strains have substantial direct influence on plant development and crop productivity (Harman, 2006).

Combination of Trichoderma inoculum and fertilizers performed better compared with single application of either fertilizer or inoculum showing that when soil fertility was increased, the level of increased maize and beans growth induced by Trichoderma spp. was enhanced. Addition of fertilizer could have provided substrate for proliferation of the fungus thereby increasing its overall performance. Windham et al, (1986) also reported that when soil fertility was increased, the level of increased tomato growth induced by Trichoderma spp. was enhanced. Manure effect on seedling growth was low compared to other fertilizers probably due to its quality and the short period of running the experiment. Manure has been reported to have several effects when added to the soil system which include, immediate supply of nutrients like nitrogen as ammonium, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients that can be used directly by plants and microorganisms; delayed supply of nutrients that are part of organic (carbon-containing) compounds; lowered pH; salt and ammonia toxicity; improved soil structure; enhanced biological activity. The immediate supply of nutrients by manure could explain the improved effect of Trichoderma on germination when soils were treated with the fertilizer. The delayed supply of nutrients from manure explains the low effect of the fertilizer on eventual growth parameters of the seedlings. Gopichand et al, (2006) working on Curcuma aromática, and Zane and Basil (2004) working on Pennisetum americanum also reported such delayed effects on nutrient release from manure. Eghball et al., (2004) also reported residual effects of manure and compost applications on corn production and soil properties.

Trichoderma promoted growth of primary root length and root branching in maize and beans by inducing lateral root growth. In plants auxins have been demonstrated to initiate lateral root growth (Casimiro et al. ,2001) and the observed effects of Trichoderma in promoting lateral root development is similar to in vitro experiments performed by Hexon et al., (2009) that showed that Trichoderma spp. produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) that promoted lateral root formation in Arabidopsis thaliana. The root system is important for plant fitness because it provides anchorage, contributes to water use efficiency, and facilitates the acquisition of mineral nutrients from the soil (Lopez-Bucio et al, 2005a). Increased root size resulted into increased shoot size which translates into increased shoot biomass production indicating a beneficial effect of inoculation on plant growth and development. The positive influence of Trichoderma on root system architecture would therefore relate to increased yield of plants. Trichoderma enhanced root biomass production and increased root hair development has also been reported by Bjorkman et al, 1998; Harman etal, 2004b.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the Trichoderma spp. isolate tested increased the rate of seed germination and shoot and root growth of maize and bean seedlings. Addition of fertilizers enhanced Trichoderma activities. The development of this isolate as a successful biostimulant is dependent upon understanding of the complex interactions of this organism and plants in the soil ecosystem.

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