Effect of Trichoderma harzianum on Growth of Corn under Water Stress Condition

Abstract

Drought is the major abiotic stress which has been increased over the past decades affecting world’s food security. One possibility to increase the drought tolerance is to use beneficial microorganisms as seed treatment. In this study the seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum on the growth of Corn (Zea mays L.) under water stress condition has been tested. Parameters including drought tolerance capacity, shoot length, root length, plant height and chlorophyll content were recorded in all the treatments along with the untreated control. Application of Trichoderma harzianum during seed biopriming treatments in corn was found more effective in drought tolerance and resulted in improved vegetative growth performance in water stress condition. Among all the treatments Trichoderma harzianum seed treatment with water stress condition was found highly effective in reducing the water stress by increasing the cumulative mean water stress tolerance duration up to 6.54 days after the last irrigation followed by untreated seed with water stress condition with mean water stress tolerance of 5.36 days. Maximum cumulative mean shoot growth root growth and chlorophyll content 164 cm, 40 cm and 39.63 SPAD units respectively were recorded with Trichoderma harzianum seed treatment with water stress condition followed by Trichoderma harzianum seed treatment with regular irrigation having 163.25 cm, 38.25 cm and 37.29 SPAD units respectively. The seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum. is comparatively easy, cost effective and ecofriendly practice for the farmers and good alternatives for chemical pesticides and fertilizers it also safe for environment.