Trichoderma – based inoculants an eco-friendly option to enhance Eruca sativa and Lactuca sativa productivity and sanity.

Abstract

In this study, native Trichoderma sp. strains were tested as potential inoculants to improve Eruca sativa and Lactuca sativa productivity and sanity. Six strains assigned to T. harzianum and T. asperellum were isolated from the rhizosphere of this leafy vegetables. A significant positive effect of inoculation with all the native isolates was observed in rocket seedlings cultivated in nursery and in field conditions. The highest increase was observed in seedlings inoculated with T. harzianum R2 with an increment in the fresh shoot biomass of 75% in nursery and of 63% in field. In lettuce, an increase up to 147% was obtained in plants inoculated with T. harzianum LMR3, however in nursery any of the inoculation treatments did not enhance plant biomass. Moreover, rocket seedlings inoculated with T. asperellum R1 presented only 2,8% of mildew disease incidence caused by H. parasitica while lettuce seedlings inoculated with T. harzianum R2 presented only 8% of grey mold incidence compared to un-inoculated seedlings with 98% and 100% of disease incidence, respectively. In conclusion, bio-inoculation of rocket and lettuce with native Trichoderma strains increased yield of these crops and the decreased the incidence of mildew in rocket and gray mold in lettuce in nursery. Therefore, Trichoderma-based inoculants could represent a promising sustainable strategy to enhance productivity and sanity of leafy vegetables.