Growth promoting activity of Trichoderma spp. on sunflower seedlings

Abstract

Plants are constantly exposed to biotic and abiotic stress and are forced to e fficiently balance growth, reproduction and tolerance to different pathogenic organisms. Trichoderma species belong to beneficial fungi that are capable for root colonization which frequently enhances root growth and development, crop productivity, resistance to abiotic stress and nutrients uptake and utilization. Therefore, seed priming with Trichoderma spp. has successfully demonstrated to improve seed germination and seedling establishment for many field crops, such as wheat, sugar beet, maize, soybean, and sunflower. Due to that, objectives of this study was to test growth promoting ability of Trichoderma spp. isolates, which previously indicated good antagonistic activity, on sunflower seedlings. Trichoderma spp. isolates were obtained from soil samples originating from various soil types and localities in Serbia, but mainly from the Vojvodina Province, in 2012.