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Inoculation of Trichoderma asperelloides ameliorates aluminum stress-induced damages by improving growth, photosynthetic pigments and organic solutes in maize

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Abstract

Excess aluminum (Al) is a stressful condition that affects plant growth and yield quality. This study evaluates growth responses and changes in the contents of photosynthetic pigments and organic solute in maize (Zea mays L.) plants inoculated with Trichoderma asperelloides isolates (T01, T02, T74, T76, or T96) and treated with increasing doses of Al (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 µM of Al). Uninoculated unstressed plants served as control. Absolute growth rate, root length, dry biomass (shoot, roots and total) and shoot:root ratio were significantly affected in Al-stressed maize plants inoculated with T. asperelloides. Also, chlorophylls (a, b and total) were significantly reduced, whereas carotenoids and anthocyanins increased in those plants. Except for carotenoids, all parameters increased in plants inoculated with T. asperelloides, especially T01 or T02 isolates. Anthocyanins increased by 50% in plants inoculated with T74 and treated with 100 or 150 µM Al as compared to control plants. Total soluble carbohydrates increased by 74% and 101% in plants inoculated with T74 and T76, respectively, and treated with 200 µM Al. Total free amino acids increased more than 50% in plants inoculated with T02 and treated with 150 and 200 µM Al. Free prolines increased by 90%, 145% and 165% in plants inoculated with T74 and treated 100, 150 and 200 µM Al, respectively, in comparison to the unstressed control plants. We concluded that T. asperelloides positively affected growth, photosynthetic pigments, and organic solutes of Al-stressed plants, especially those inoculated with T01, T02, or T74 isolates.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the National Council for the Improvement of Higher Education (CAPES for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Center of Natural Science, Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), Teresina, PI, Brazil

    Francisca Jayslane do Rêgo Meneses, Ágda Lorena de Oliveira Lopes, Ingrid Silva Setubal, Vicente Paulo da Costa Neto & Aurenívia Bonifácio

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  1. Francisca Jayslane do Rêgo Meneses
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  2. Ágda Lorena de Oliveira Lopes
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  3. Ingrid Silva Setubal
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  4. Vicente Paulo da Costa Neto
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Contributions

AB and FJRM conceived and designed the experiments. FJRM, ÁLOL, ISS, and VPCN developed methodologies. AB, FJRM, and VPCN analyzed the experimental data. AB and FJRM wrote the article. AB responsible for the funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to Aurenívia Bonifácio.

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do Rêgo Meneses, F.J., de Oliveira Lopes, Á.L., Setubal, I.S. et al. Inoculation of Trichoderma asperelloides ameliorates aluminum stress-induced damages by improving growth, photosynthetic pigments and organic solutes in maize. 3 Biotech 12, 246 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-022-03310-3

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