Biocontrol of stem rust disease of wheat using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Trichoderma spp.

Control of stem rust disease of wheat was investigated using different combinations of Trichoderma spp. and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Impact of the application of T. harzianum HL1 and T. viride HL5, singly or in combination, on the uredospores germination of Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici was assessed in vitro. The combined spore suspension of both isolates showed the superiority over the others in this regard. Observations of the scanning electron microscopy confirmed this result. Using a GC-MS system, the chemical constitution of the culture filtrates of T. harzianum HL1 and T. viride HL5 was identified. Under the greenhouse conditions, application of AM fungi and Trichoderma spp. significantly reduced the disease measures, induced the peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzymes, increased the total phenol content and improved the tested growth and yield parameters. Based on their efficiency and eco-safety, we can recommend the use of this combination in controlling stem rust disease of wheat.