Unraveling the multilevel aspects of least explored plant beneficial <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma saturnisporum</Emphasis> isolate GITX-Panog (C)

Species of Trichoderma offer an eco-friendly and economical solution to the management of plant pathogens in agricultural crops. The secretion and spectrum of different bioactive molecules by Trichoderma spp. is known to follow adaptive and species/strain behavior, depending upon the edaphic conditions. In present study, GITX-Panog (C), an antagonistic isolate of Trichoderma saturnisporum against Fusarium oxysporum was screened for the production of different glycosyl hydrolases and secondary metabolites. The evaluation of antagonistic isolates for lytic enzymes and secondary metabolites revealed their significance as plant probiotics. Profiling of lytic enzymes such as chitinases and β-glucanases secreted by T. saturnisporum GITX-Panog (C) in the presence of autoclaved mycelium of F. oxysporum and colloidal chitin or laminarin showed increased enzyme activities. Production of bioactive secondary metabolites such as siderophore, peptaibols, 6-pentyl-α-pyrone, and the known potential of these compounds in mineral acquisition and suppression of plant F. oxysporum, revealed the potential significance of Trichoderma saturnisporum isolate GITX-Panog C in agricultural application against biotic and abiotic stresses. The antagonistic isolate also showed significant increases in fresh biomass and seed production in Arabidopsis thaliana in the greenhouse compared to controls. Thus, the current study highlights the multiple attributes of an antagonistic isolate of T. saturnisporum for future agricultural applications as a plant probiotic agent.