Volatile organic compounds of some Trichoderma spp. increase growth and induce salt tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

- Some Trichoderma spp. were screened for their VOCs' effects on Arabidopsis thaliana.
- VOCs of T. koningii promoted growth and induced salt tolerance in Arabidopsis.
- VOCs of T. koningii may protect plant against oxidative damage under salt stress.

Many beneficial effects of Trichoderma spp. on plant growth and/or resistance to biotic/abiotic stresses can result from the production of bioactive compounds including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We evaluated the effects of the volatile mixtures from 13 strains of different Trichoderma species on induction of tolerance to salt stress (100 mM NaCl) as well as growth promotion of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plants responded differently due to the presence of VOCs from various Trichoderma species ranging from both growth promotion and induction of salt tolerance to no significant changes under any of the conditions tested. In plants exposed for 2 weeks to VOCs of the selected strain, i.e. Trichoderma koningii, there was less H2O2 accumulation under salt stress compared to that in control plants. This result may reflect the possible role of VOCs of this strain in plant protection against oxidative damage under salt stress. Together, induction of salt tolerance using VOCs should be added to the known mechanisms of plant vigor enhancement by Trichoderma spp.