Front. Microbiol. Frontiers in Microbiology Front. Microbiol. 1664-302X Frontiers Media S.A. 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1493272 Microbiology Original Research Exploring Trichoderma diversity in the Western Ghats of India: phylogenetic analysis, metabolomics insights and biocontrol efficacy against Maydis Leaf Blight disease Manzar Nazia 1 * Kashyap Abhijeet Shankar 2 * Roy Manish 1 Sharma Pawan Kumar 1 Srivastava Alok Kumar 1 1Plant Pathology Lab, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan, India 2Molecular Biology Lab, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath Bhanjan, India

Edited by: Debasis Mitra, Graphic Era University, India

Reviewed by: Karin E. Groten, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Germany

Hanane Boutaj, University Abdelmalek Essaâdi, Morocco

 *Correspondence: Abhijeet Shankar Kashyap, abhijeet4497@gmail.com Nazia Manzar, naziamanzar786@gmail.com 20 12 2024 2024 15 1493272 08 09 2024 04 11 2024 Copyright © 2024 Manzar, Kashyap, Roy, Sharma and Srivastava. 2024 Manzar, Kashyap, Roy, Sharma and Srivastava

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The Western Ghats of India is recognized as one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity. Trichoderma—a well-known biocontrol agent, was explored from this hotspot. A total of 260 Trichoderma spp. isolates were studied, with 9% exhibiting strong biocontrol potential and crop growth-promoting activity. Furthermore, this study identified three novel isolates—Trichoderma caribbaeum var. caribbaeum, Trichoderma lixii, and Trichoderma brevicompactum—which are reported for the first time from the Western Ghats making a significant contribution to the field. Based on internal transcribed spacer ribosomal RNA (ITS-rRNA) and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef-1α) gene sequence analysis, molecular characterization, identified major isolates as Trichoderma koningiopsis, Trichoderma asperellum, T. caribbaeum var. caribbaeum, T. lixii, T. brevicompactum, Trichoderma atroviride, and Trichoderma erinaceum. Seed biopriming with the effective Trichoderma strain TR11 reduced the maydis leaf blight (MLB) disease index to 32.92% and improved plant growth-promoting attributes in maize. Defensive enzyme activities were increased 2.5–4.2-fold in various treatments with the TR11 isolate, along with enhanced lignification postpathogen inoculation, indicating strengthened plant defense mechanisms. The promising strain T. brevicompactum-TR11 produces secondary metabolites; among them, 5% were found to have a role in biocontrol activity such as octadecanoic acid, palmitic acid-TMS, 5-(4-nitrophenoxymethyl), furane-2-carboxaldehyde, and stearic acid-TMS, phosphoric acid-3TMS, galactopyranose, 5TMS. This study explored Trichoderma diversity in the Western Ghats of India with phylogenetic relationship, metabolomics insights, and biocontrol efficacy against MLB disease.

 Graphical abstract

galactopyranose Trichoderma spp. secondary metabolites host-pathogen interaction diversity section-at-acceptance Microbe and Virus Interactions with Plants Introduction

The Western Ghats of India—a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the world’s eight major biodiversity hotspots. It stretches from the southern tip of Gujarat through the Satpura range in the north, passing through Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala, and ends at the southernmost part of India (Mehta and Shah, 2021). This region hosts a diverse range of organisms, including many novel and undiscovered microorganisms with significant potential for different applications (Nampoothiri et al., 2013). Trichoderma, common ascomycetes fungi found in soils globally, are widely studied for managing soil- and foliar-borne diseases. They are prevalent in various environments such as agricultural areas, grasslands, forests, and deserts (Jaklitsch, 2011). Multiple species of Trichoderma act as biocontrol agents against fungal pathogens (Li et al., 2013). A major threat is maydis leaf blight (MLB) or southern corn leaf blight (SCLB), caused by the fungus Bipolaris maydis, poses a significant threat to maize production globally (Manzar et al., 2022b). MLB can cause grain yield reductions of over 40%, with historical epidemics in the 1970s leading to losses of 28–91% (Zhu et al., 2021; Gogoi et al., 2014). Chemical control methods, though widely practiced, have several drawbacks, including environmental contamination, pathogen resistance, and adverse effects on non-target organisms. Hence, the use of biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative (Aggarwal et al., 2024). However, the efficacy of Trichoderma as a biocontrol agent can vary significantly among species and strains. Therefore, exploring the diversity of Trichoderma in different ecosystems and understanding their phylogenetic relationships is critical for identifying strains with superior biocontrol potential. Due to the lack of distinct morphological features and the rise of cryptic species, identifying Trichoderma based solely on morphology is challenging (Hoyos-Carvajal et al., 2009; Sun et al., 2012; Rodriguez et al., 2021; Manzar et al.,2022a). Molecular techniques now enable accurate identification of Trichoderma isolates and potential new species through gene sequence analysis (Druzhinina et al., 2005; Kubicek et al., 2008). The diverse genus Hypocrea Trichoderma includes around 160 species—the majority of them were identified via molecular phylogeny from pure cultures and herbaria specimens (Druzhinina et al., 2005). Surveys of Trichoderma spp. have been conducted in regions such as Siberia, the Himalayas (Kullnig et al., 2000), China (Zhang et al., 2005), Central and South America, and Egypt (Gherbawy et al., 2004). These studies identified unique species in each area and discovered new ones, possibly indicating species’ preference for specific regions or climates (Bissett et al., 2003; Kraus et al., 2004). The ability of Trichoderma spp. to induce resistance in maize plants against foliar pathogens has been proven (Harman, 2011; Jie et al., 2014). In response to pathogen attacks, plants exhibit various biochemical reactions, among which the antioxidative response holds significance due to the generation of numerous reactive oxygen species (ROS). This antioxidative defense mechanism involves the activation of enzymes such as peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Plant pathogens trigger the induction of these enzymes through oxidative damage (Chugh et al., 2011). POX, a pivotal enzyme, participates in the biosynthesis of lignin and phytoalexins (Fan et al., 2006), and SOD operates to neutralize oxygen free radicals and active oxygen, thereby shielding plant membranes and essential enzymes within the salicylic acid pathway (Guo et al., 2006). Trichoderma spp. create a broad range of secondary metabolites that belong to many chemical groups, including alcohols, aldehydes, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, aromatic compounds, esters, furans, hydrocarbons, ketones, and compounds comprising S and N elements (Nieto-Jacobo et al., 2017; Esparza-Reynoso et al., 2021). These metabolites might involve in several biological activities, including microorganism-to-microorganism communication and biocontrol (Crutcher et al., 2013). The Trichoderma species are considered as plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF), capable of colonizing and multiplying in the rhizosphere and strengthening plant defense systems. They can promote plant development in several indirect ways; however, little is known about metabolites-based interactions now. Trichoderma metabolites have been demonstrated to promote plant growth by acting as antibiotics against fungal pathogens (Vinale et al., 2014). This study aimed to ascertain the species diversity of Trichoderma gathered from the hot spot regions of Western Ghats of India and to find out the most potent Trichoderma isolates for managing MLB disease. This study focuses on characterizing Trichoderma isolates collected from the rhizosphere soil of various crops or plants in the Western Ghats region of India. The isolates were molecularly characterized and evaluated for their efficacy in reducing MLB severity caused by the pathogen B. maydis. Histochemical studies were conducted to assess disease reduction and to visualize lignin and callose deposition as the first line of defense, and also investigated the impact of these isolates on biochemical responses in maize plants, specifically the activity of defense enzymes (POX, SOD, and CAT), and analyzed secondary metabolites produced by the most effective Trichoderma isolates.

 Materials and methods

The study sampled various regions within the Western Ghats, including part of Shimoga, Coorg, Kodagu’s Somvarpet Taluk, Dakshina Kannada, Channarayapatna, Sakleshpur, Madikeri, Piriyapatna, Karwar, Begar, Sulya, and Udupi during an exploration survey conducted in December 2021. A total of 36 soil samples were collected, and the Trichoderma isolates were obtained and characterized in this study were obtained.

 Isolation and storage of pure cultures

Using the serial dilution plating approach, the Trichoderma selective medium described by Manzar and Singh (2020) was employed to isolate Trichoderma species. MgSO4·7H2O (0.2 g), K2HPO4 (0.9 g), KCl (015 g), NH4NO3 (1.0 g), glucose (3.0 g), Rose Bengal (0.15 g), and agar (20 g) make up 1 L of Trichoderma selective medium. Putative Trichoderma colonies were purified using potato dextrose agar (PDA) for two rounds of subculturing. Mineral oil was used to keep pure cultures at 4°C.

 Morphological analysis

Strains were cultivated on PDA for 7–8 days at 27°C to perform morphological examination using microscopic observations. After 3 days of incubation, pustules with white conidia were used to make microscopic slides for morphological features. To prepare the slides, a drop of 3% KOH was applied to each slide. KOH wets the conidia in the slide to provide better observation and aids in the conidiophores’ dissemination. According to Gams and Bissett, Trichoderma species were identified by Samuels (2006). Supplementary Table S1 lists microscopic observation and cultural morphology.

 DNA extraction and amplification

To extract DNA, Trichoderma isolates were grown on a PDA medium at 28°C for 4 days. After incubation, 3–4 mycelial plugs were transferred into a 250-ml conical flask containing 100 mL of potato dextrose (PD) broth, followed by shaking at 150 rpm at 28°C. The mycelial matrix was filtered using Whatman filter paper 42 following 6 days of development. It was cleaned using sterile distilled water and centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 20 min at 4°C. Liquid nitrogen was then used in a pestle and mortar to pulverize it. The Nucleopore GDNA Fungus Kit-NP-7006D (Genetix Biotech Asia Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India) was utilized to extract genomic DNA (Manzar et al., 2021). Using a spectrophotometer (Shimadzu, Tokyo, Japan), the concentration and purity of the DNA were ascertained by measuring the absorbance at 260 and 280 nm. Using the primers ITS1 (TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG) and ITS4 (TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC), the nuclear small-subunit rRNA gene’s ITS region was amplified in an automated thermocycler (Bio-rad-C1000 Thermal Cycler) by White et al.’s 1990 report. A 25-μl volume was used for the PCR, which contained 1X Taq Buffer with KCl (2.5 μL), 200 μM deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP, 0.5 μL), 1.5-mM MgCl2 (1.5 μL), 1 U/reaction Taq polymerase (0.2 μL), 1X nuclease-free water (17.3 μL, Genetix brand), ITS 1 (10 pm) primer (1 μL), ITS4 (10 pm) primer (1 μL), and 100 ng genomic DNA (1 μL). The Trichoderma isolates ITS region was amplified at 95°C (initial denaturation) for 2 min, 40 denaturation cycles at 94°C for 1 min, 55°C (annealing) for 1 min, 72°C (extension) for 1 min, and at 72°C (final extension) for 10 min. Gel electrophoresis was performed for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products (10 μL), bands were recorded, and photographed in the gel documentation unit (Bio-Rad, Philadelphia, PA, USA). Bidirectionally Sanger sequencing method (Eurofins Pvt. Ltd) followed by sequence assembly with (Hall et al., 1999) was performed. For all ITS1, ITS4, and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef-1α) region sequences, multiple sequence alignment was performed using (Tamura et al., 2021) and CLUSTAL W (Thompson et al., 1994; Kashyap et al., 2023).

The ITS1 and ITS4 gene sequences of each Trichoderma isolate underwent alignment and basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) interface analysis using TrichoOKey, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, and the TrichoBLAST program for tef-1α gene sequences. Sequence similarity percentages confirmed matches. Aligned sequences were then submitted to the DNA Data Bank of Japan (Mashima et al., 2017) and (Sayers et al., 2022) to obtain accession numbers for ITS and tef-1α regions. The molecular phylogenetic analysis employed the Maximum Likelihood technique using (Tamura et al., 2021) and (Tamura et al., 1993). A consensus tree was inferred, and nodal robustness was assessed using the bootstrap method with 1,000 replications to determine phylogenetic relationships among isolates and Trichoderma species.

<italic>In vitro</italic> assessment of <italic>Trichoderma</italic> isolates for antagonistic activity against <italic>Bipolaris maydis</italic>

The test pathogen B. maydis and the 19 Trichoderma isolates were inoculated at the opposing corners of Petri plates to see if the isolates were antagonistic to each other (Morton and Stroube, 1955). B. maydis inoculation was performed 3 days ahead of the Trichoderma isolates since it developed slowly in a culture. The observations were reported on the sixth day after the dual culture experiment was run in three replications. The mycelial growth area of B. maydis was measured. Utilizing the formula described by Mokhtar and Aid (2013), the percent inhibition of the pathogen vis-à-vis the control was ascertained: mycelial growth inhibition (MGI) (%) = (C − T) × 100/C. Here, MGI represents the percent inhibition of mycelial growth, where C denotes pathogenic control, and T signifies the area of B. maydis mycelial growth in dual culture with Trichoderma.

 Inoculum preparation for maize plant treatment using selected bioagents

Water was used to soak the cleaned sorghum seeds for 12 h. The seeds were soaked, and then cooked for 20–25 min in a boiling water bath to soften the grains and then inoculated with a 3-day-old, actively growing Trichoderma isolate culture with the help of the sterilized aseptic cork borer, subsequently grown for 2 weeks at 28°C in a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) incubator. The flasks were shaken rapidly to prevent clumping and disrupt the mycelial mat after 7 days of inoculation. The sorghum seeds that the Trichoderma isolates had colonized were allowed to air dry in the shade for 14 days before being pulverized in a mixer grinder.

Pure bioagent powder was obtained after being concurrently run through 50–80 mesh sieves. Talc powder and the finely ground Trichoderma isolates grown in sorghum seeds were combined in a 1:2 ratio, and the mixture was allowed to air dry for 3 days at room temperature in the shade. Approximately 5 g/kg of tapioca starch was added to the mixture. Pot tests were conducted using the final Trichoderma inoculum, which was adjusted in the formulation to 5 × 108 cfu/g and then packed in polythene bags at room temperature (25 ± 2°C). In the fully grown culture of B. maydis, the conidia in the culture were scraped with the help of a spatula, and were suspended in deionized water containing 0.02% tween 20. This process produced the conidial suspension of B. maydis. As recommended by previous research, the final pathogen concentration was adjusted to 1 × 106 conidia L−1 (Manzar et al., 2022b; Muimba-Kankolongo and Bergstrom, 2011). Using a hand-operated sprayer, the conidial suspension of B. maydis (106 conidia L−1) was sprayed on plants that were 25-days old in the evening to induce leaf blight symptoms. Plants treated with water only were considered as control plants, and plants inoculated with B. maydis as pathogen-induced controls.

 Pot preparation and plant material

The glasshouse experimental setup comprised 5-kg plastic pots filled with sterilized autoclaved soil. Within each 30-cm plastic pot, healthy and surface-sterilized seeds of the susceptible Kanchan variety of maize were meticulously planted. The experiment included nine distinct treatments: T1 (CM212 + E7 + TR11), where CM212 is a moderately susceptible cultivar of maize, E7 is the virulent isolate of B. maydis, and TR11 is the isolate of Trichoderma; T7 (Dhiari local +TR11 + E7), where Dhiari local is the susceptible cultivar of maize, E7 is the virulent isolate of B. maydis, and TR11 is the isolate of Trichoderma; T4 (VL78 + E7 + TR11), where VL78 is the resistant cultivar of maize, E7 is the virulent isolate of B. Maydis, and TR11 is the isolate of Trichoderma; the pathogen inoculated control T8 (Dhiari local+E7), where Dhiari local is the susceptible cultivar of maize and E7 is the virulent isolate of B. Maydis; T2 (CM212 + E7), where CM212 is a moderately susceptible cultivar of maize and E7 is the virulent isolate of B. Maydis; T5 (VL78 + E7), where VL78 is the resistant cultivar of maize and E7 is the virulent isolate of B. maydis; the uninoculated untreated control T6 (VL78), where VL78 is the resistant cultivar of maize; T3 (CM212), where CM212 is a moderately susceptible cultivar of maize; and T9 (Dhiari local) where Dhiari local is the susceptible cultivar of maize. Ten seeds were sown per pot, with one healthy plant retained after germination. Each treatment was replicated five times in a completely randomized design. Pathogen inoculation occurred 25 days after sowing. Maize seeds underwent biopriming, involving surface sterilization with a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution followed by immersion in water for 24 h. Trichoderma-treated seeds received a talc-based formulation containing 5 × 108 cfu/g @10 g/kg of seeds in a 2% gum arabic solution, following established protocols (Lewis et al., 1991). Samples were collected for each biochemical assay from individual treatments and from plants either inoculated with the pathogen or left uninoculated, at specific intervals postinoculation—namely, 0, 24, 48, and 72 h—to evaluate the induction of defense-related enzymes in maize plants under glasshouse conditions, with an average of three replications. The samples were stored at −80°C. Enzyme activity data, including assays for superoxide dismutase, POX, and polyphenol oxidase, were obtained using a spectrophotometer. SOD was estimated by the method described (Beauchamp and Fridovich, 1971). Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity was estimated by the method described (Mayer et al., 1966). POX activity was determined by the standard method (Hammerschmidt et al., 1982). Plant growth traits and disease severity were assessed 45 days after sowing. Disease severity was quantified using the percent disease index (PDI), calculated based on leaf area infection scores ranging from 1 to 9. The PDI was calculated using the following formula: PDI (%) = Σ (Scale × Amount of plants)/ (Maximum grade × Total number of plants) described by Wheeler (1969).

 Qualitative assay for ROS, callose deposition, and lignification

A maize leaves assay was conducted to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) using the 3′,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) staining method. The DAB used in the assay was obtained from Sigma–Aldrich (USA), with catalog number D8001. The technique used in this assay was previously described by Thordal-Christensen et al. (1997), Bindschedler et al. (2006), and Daudi and O'Brien (2012). Leaf segments from various treatments were excised and submerged in a 1 mg/mL DAB solution (pH 3.8) for 8 h. This allowed the leaf segments to undergo a reaction with H2O2 and peroxidase. Leaf segments were treated with a solution containing 1.5 g/L trichloroacetic acid in ethanol:chloroform (4:1 v/v) for 48 h to achieve fixation. Subsequently, the segments were fixed in a solution consisting of 50% glycerol, which is commonly used in microscopy. Subsequently, digital photographs of leaf segments dyed with DAB were captured using a Canon digital camera from Japan. Each treatment consisted of four biological replicates. For callose deposition, leaves were cut into 5-mm strips; leaf samples were immersed in the fixative (ethanol/acetic acid, 3:1) and incubated for 12–24 h at room temperature. The fixed leaves were transferred into 1 N NaOH solution and incubate at 60°C for 1–2 h. Wash the cleared leaves several times with distilled water to remove NaOH. Stain the leaves by immersing them in aniline blue solution (in 1% [wt/vol]) aniline blue in 0.01 M K3PO4, pH 12, in darkness for 30–60 min in the dark at room temperature. After staining, wash the leaves gently with potassium phosphate buffer. The stained sections were mounted on slides and fixed using 95% ethanol before being observed under a compound light microscope manufactured by Nikon, Japan. The presence of blue color indicated callose deposition. The plants with different treatments were collected 15 days after being inoculated with B. maydis for lignin deposition. The roots were cut by hand and stained with a solution containing 1% phloroglucinol in 20% HCl. The stained sections were mounted on slides and fixed using 95% ethanol before being observed under a compound light microscope manufactured by Nikon, Japan. The presence of a pink color indicated lignin deposition, as described by Singh et al. (2011).

 Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Fungal culture filtrates were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to detect active biomolecules. Secondary metabolites were identified using a single quadrupole mass spectrometer detector, following methods described by Stoppacher et al. (2010) and Siddiquee et al. (2012). The secondary metabolites in the culture filtrate of Trichoderma species were analyzed by GC–MS. Hydrocarbons and other secondary metabolites were separated from Trichoderma methanol extracts using a Gas Chromatograph GC-2020 (Shimadzu).

The mycelial mat from the petri plates was harvested. Liquid nitrogen grinding was carried out, and the obtained powder was collected into the tubes. A 6-ml metabolite extraction buffer (methanol:chloroform:water = 62.5:25:12.5) was added. Homogenization was carried out for 15–20 min. The sample was vortexed at retention time (RT) for 30 min. Centrifugation was performed at 13,000 rpm for 30 min at 4°C. After centrifugation, two layers were observed. The lower layer containing metabolites was taken and vacuum dried. To the pellet obtained, 100 μL of derivatizing reagent was added and incubated at 80°C for 30 min. N,O-Bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoro acetamide + trimethylchlorosilane (BSTFA + TMCS) is used as a derivatization reagent for GC. This derivatized sample was further taken for GC–MS analysis; column: Spincotech DB-5 Column, flow rate: 1 mL/min, injection volume: 1 μL, run time: 60 min, and m/z range: 50–800 were used. The identified compound spectra were compared with those in the GC–MS database of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), with a threshold for detection set at over 90% resemblance.

 Statistical analysis

The data obtained from laboratory and glasshouse studies were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) method, as described by Trillas et al. (2006). Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) was employed to compare the means. The Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) software version 16.0 was used for this analysis—created by SPSS, Inc., which is now known as IBM SPSS.

 Results

The exploration survey was conducted to study the Trichoderma spp. from the rhizospheric soil of the Western Ghats. A total of 260 Trichoderma isolates were obtained and subjected to morphological, biochemical, and molecular analyses.

Morphological description

Upon obtaining a pure isolate of Trichoderma spp., morphological characterization was conducted according to Barnett and Hunter’s (1972) method. This entailed assessing concentric rings, pigmentation, and mycelium texture, as detailed in Table 1 and illustrated in Figures 1A,B. Microscopic identification involved examining cultural structures such as phialides, hyphae, conidial shape, and conidiophore number. Conidia exhibited a mean length ranging from 3.4–3.5 μm and a mean width ranging from 2.7–3.0 μm.

Detailing Trichoderma isolate data, including isolate codes, geographical information, host sources, genetic sequence accessions, and morphological characteristics of conidia.

Isolate code GPS location Country Host Source of isolation GenBank accession no. Identity of isolates Conidia sizeLength × width Conidia shape
ITS TEF
TR41 13.87428 N 75.23412 E India Coconut Rhizospheric soil PP175190 LC799601 Trichoderma koningiopsis 3.7 μm × 2.3 μm oblong to ellipsoidal or ovoidal and smooth
TR8 12.44 N 75.93 E India Bamboo Rhizospheric soil PP153914 LC799821 Trichoderma caribbaeum var. caribbaeum 4.8 μm × 2.5 μm Conidia ellipsoidal to nearlyoblong, smooth.
TR40 12.43 N 75.89 E India Artocarpus hirsutus Rhizospheric soil PP153421 LC799822 T. caribbaeum var. caribbaeum 3.1–3.2 μm × 3 μm Conidia ellipsoidal to nearly oblong, smooth
TR28 14.00 N 75.55 E India Arecanut Rhizospheric soil PP152293 LC799823 T. koningiopsis 3.9 μm × 2.7 μm oblong to ellipsoidal or ovoidal and smooth
TR25 12.51 N 75.49 E India Rubber Rhizospheric soil PP141160 LC799824 Trichoderma lixii 3.5 μm × 1.9 μm globose or subglobose conidia
TR12 12.92 N 76.40 E India Curcuma longa Rhizospheric soil PP141036 LC799825 T. koningiopsis 2.7 μm × 2.1 μm oblong to ellipsoidal or ovoidal and smooth
TR21 12.93 N 75.76 E India Sugarcane Rhizospheric soil PP140921 LC800024 Trichoderma brevicompactum 2.7–3.5 μm × 2.5–3.0 μm Conidia were sub-spherical or oval and smooth
TR-10 12.47 N 75.59 E India Piper nigrum Rhizospheric soil PP140887 LC800025 Trichoderma atroviride 3.0–4.0 μm × 2.0–3.0 μm Conidia were sub-globose to globose, smooth, and thick-walled
TR30 12.41 N 75.71 E India Coffee Rhizospheric soil PP140873 LC800026 T. koningiopsis 3.9 μm × 2.5 μm oblong to ellipsoidal or ovoidal and smooth
TR3 12.39 N 75.87 E India Senegalia catechu Rhizospheric soil PP140845 LC800027 T. brevicompactum 3.2 μm × 2.8 μm Conidia were sub-spherical or oval and smooth, conidiophores was 1.8–2.9 × 0.9–2.1 μm
TR1 12.51 N 75.50 E India Rubber Rhizospheric soil PP140831 LC800028 T. brevicompactum 3.1 μm × 2.9 μm Conidia were sub-spherical or oval and smooth
TR4 12.33443 N 76.1507 E India Tobacco Rhizospheric soil PP112347 LC800245 T. brevicompactum 3.5 μm × 3.0 μm Conidia were sub-spherical or oval and smooth
TR17 12.33 N 76.15 E India Ragi Rhizospheric soil PP112276 LC800246 T. lixii 3.5 μm ×2.1 μm globose or subglobose conidia
Tr14 12.42 N 77.20 E India CocoaCoconut Rhizospheric soil PP112272 LC800247 Trichoderma erinaceum 1.3 μm × 1.5 μm ellipsoidal to broadly ellipsoidal
TR20 14.91 N 74.25 E India Maize Rhizospheric soil PP217768 LC800357 Trichoderma asperellum 3.32 μm × 3.18 μm globose toovoidal
TR44 13.50 N 75.21 E India Rubber Rhizospheric soil PP229207 LC800358 T. asperellum 2.6 μm × 2.32 μm globose toovoidal
TR53 15.02 N 74.77 E India Ragi Rhizospheric soil PP229206 LC800359 T. asperellum 3.09 μm × 2.95 μm globose toovoidal
TR11 12.512045 N 75.509370 E India Rubber Rhizospheric soil PP346030 LC800360 T. brevicompactum 3.5 μm × 3.0 μm Conidia were sub-spherical or oval and smooth
TR51 13.34 N 75.00E India Rubber Rhizospheric soil PP340179 LC800361 T. brevicompactum 2.8 μm × 2.1 μm Conidia were sub-spherical or oval and smooth

(A) Representative images showing the diverse colonies morphology of Trichoderma isolates on potato dextrose agar (PDA) media after 8 days of incubation at 27°C. (B) Microscopic characteristics of representative Trichoderma strains, showcasing phialides in groups emerging from small terminal clusters, conidiophores, and conidia (10× magnification).

 Molecular characterization of <italic>Trichoderma</italic> isolates

Molecular identification of 19 Trichoderma isolates was conducted using DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed regions (ITS1 and ITS4) and a segment of the tef-1α gene. This approach confirmed species identity, complementing earlier morphological assessments. Amplicon sequencing revealed consistent fragment sizes of 650 bp for ITS and 600 bp for tef-1α across all isolates. Sequence analysis and BLAST search confirmed species classification with five isolates identified as Trichoderma koningiopsis (TR41, TR28, TR12, TR28, and TR30), six as Trichoderma brevicompactum (TR11, TR51, TR4, TR1, TR3, and TR21), two as Trichoderma caribbaeum var. caribbaeum (TR8 and TR40), one as Trichoderma atroviride (TR10), three as Trichoderma asperellum (TR44, TR53, and TR20), two as Trichoderma lixii (TR17 and TR25), and one as Trichoderma erinaceum (TR14). Accession numbers were obtained for submitted gene sequences in the NCBI GenBank database. Geographical coordinates and other relevant data are provided (Table 1). The outgroup species were selected to illustrate phylogenetic relationships, Mucor circinelloides (JN205961) for ITS and Mucor rongii (MT815277) for tef-1α were chosen as an outgroup.

 Phylogenetic relationship based on ITS rRNA and tef-1α gene sequences

Phylogenetic analysis was performed on 19 Trichoderma isolates (TR41, TR8, TR40, TR28, TR25, TR12, TR10, TR30, TR3, TR1, TR17, Tr14, TR20, TR44, TR53, TR11, and TR51) using ITS1, ITS4, and tef-1α sequences. The analysis confirmed their classification within the Trichoderma genus. The bootstrap analysis assessed nodal robustness, with numerical values indicating bootstrap support. Based on these values, the 19 Trichoderma spp. isolates were categorized into two distinct clades, designated as clade A and clade B, using ITS1 and ITS4 gene sequences, respectively. The T. atroviride isolate TR10, clustered with T. atroviride 2019-1 (MW386846) and Tri178 (HQ229943) with a bootstrap value of 66%. The isolates of T. koningiopsis TR12, TR41, and TR28 clustered with T. koningiopsis_XXTF5 (MN602617), Tk1 (MT111912), and Dis326h (DQ379015), respectively, with a bootstrap value 63%, whereas T. caribbaeum var. caribbaeum TR8 clustered with T. caribbaeum var. caribbaeum_TR10 with a bootstrap value 87%. T. erinaceum TR14 clustered with T. erinaceum (MK714900 and MK714901) with a bootstrap value of 99%. T. asperellum (TR44, TR20, and TR53) formed as a distinct clade and clustered with T. asperellum (MT102403) at a bootstrap value of 87%. The separated clade B formed two subclades where subclade B1 consists of T. lixii (TR25 and TR17) clustered with T. lixii (OK147869) and subclade B2 consists of T. brevicompactum (TR21, TR4, TR3, and TR1) clustered with T. brevicompactum (CBS112443 and TB003) and the outgroup were M. circinelloides, respectively (Figure 2A). The bootstrap values indicated the division of the 19 Trichoderma spp. isolates into two distinct clades based on tef-1α gene sequences. Clade A consists of four subclades, subclade A1 consists of two subclades, one subclade consists of T. lixii (TR25 and TR17) clustered with T. lixii (J763177 and EF191332) with a bootstrap value of 100%, and the other subclade consists of T. caribbaeum var. caribbaeum isolates (TR40 and TR8) clustered with T. caribbaeum (KJ871190) with a bootstrap value of 98%. The subclade A2 consists of two clades where T. atroviride formed a separate clade and T. asperellum (TR44, TR20, and TR53) clustered as a distinct clade with T. asperellum (MK095221, JKQ617311, and EU856323) with a bootstrap value of 96%. The subclades A3 consists of two subclades T. erinaceum isolates TR14 formed a distinct clade, whereas the other subclades consist of T. brevicompactum TR1, TR51, TR11, TR21, TR4, and TR3 clustered with T. brevicompactum (EU338273, FJ618573, and EU338294). The subclades A4 consists of Trichoderma koningiopsis (TR28, TR41, TR12, and TR30), clustered with Trichoderma koningiopsis (KT278985, FJ467647, and JQ040437) with a bootstrap value of 90%. Clade B consists of T. erinaceum (OR841153), which formed a distinct clade, and clade C consists T. caribbaeum (KJ665443) with a distinct clade and an outgroup M. rongii formed a separate clade (Figure 2B).

Phylogenetic relationship among Trichoderma isolates. Cladogram illustrating the phylogenetic relationships among Trichoderma isolates, constructed using the maximum likelihood method based on (A) ITS sequences and (B) Tef gene sequences. Bootstrap replication was set to 1,000. The comparison utilized sequences obtained from NCBI GenBank with the accession numbers listed in the manuscript. Mucor circinelloides CBS 195.68 (JN205961) and Mucor rongii CICC:41725(MT815277) were selected as an outgroup for ITS and Tef gene phylogenetic tree, respectively. The scale bar indicates 0.1 and 0.2 substitutions per site for ITS and Tef gene phylogenetic tree, respectively.

 <italic>In vitro</italic> assessment of <italic>Trichoderma</italic> isolates for antagonistic potential

The in vitro screening of Trichoderma isolates revealed a noteworthy reduction in the mycelial growth of B. maydis, ranging from 39.52 to 60.00%. Among the isolates, TR11 exhibited the highest inhibition rate at 60.00%, followed by TR21 and TR06, which showed inhibition rates of 58.57 and 58.38%, respectively (Supplementary Table S2 and Figures 3A,B).

(A) Plates illustrate the representative pictures of the antagonistic activity of Trichoderma isolates against Bipolaris maydis (control) in a dual culture assay under in vitro laboratory conditions at 28 ± 2°C. Observations were recorded on the sixth day. (B) Stacked radial plot depicts the percentage inhibition among multiple variables in a circular format. Results are expressed as the average of three replications.

 Exploring biochemical defensive enzyme cascade in maize against <italic>Bipolaris maydis</italic> under glasshouse conditions

The enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and POX were assessed at 0, 24, 48, and 72-h postinoculation with B. maydis in 30-day-old maize plants. In all treatments, including seed biopriming with Trichoderma isolates, activities of SOD, PPO, and PO were significantly elevated compared to both the pathogen-treated control and the untreated healthy control. Treatment T7 (Dhiari Local+TR11 + E7) exhibited the highest SOD activity, 27.11% higher than the pathogen control at 72 h, followed by treatment T1 (CM212 + TR11 + E7) with a 20.38% increase, where CM212 is a moderately susceptible cultivar of maize, E7 is the virulent isolate of B. maydis, and TR11 is the isolate of Trichoderma. Treatment T4 showed the highest POX activity, while T1 recorded the highest PPO activity, both exceeding the pathogen control by 13.02 and 12.50%, respectively, at 72 h postinoculation. These enzyme activities remained stable at 0 h, increased at 24 h, and peaked at 72 h postinoculation across all treatments. Conversely, the untreated pathogen control showed no significant increase in enzyme activity (Figure 4).

Heatmap showing defensive enzymatic activities in maize plants, postinoculated with Bipolaris maydis. Observations were recorded at different time intervals, whereas the x-axis shows different time intervals: 0, 24, 48, and 72 h for superoxide dismutase (SOD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and peroxidase (PO) activities in maize leaves; and y-axis shows different treatments T1: CM212 + E7 + TR11; T2: CM212 + E7; T3: CM212; T4 VL78 + E7 + TR11; T5 VL78 + E7; T6: VL78; T7: Dhiari local +TR11 + E7; T8: Dhiari local+E7; and T9: Dhiari local, where CM212, Dhiari local and VL78 are moderately susceptible cultivar of maize; E7 is the virulent isolate of Bipolaris maydis; and TR11 is Trichoderma isolate.

 Enhancing growth and reducing disease in maize through seed biopriming with <italic>Trichoderma</italic> isolates

Significant enhancements in crop physiological growth parameters, such as root length, shoot length, fresh shoot, and root weight, as well as dry shoot and root weight, were observed following seed biopriming treatments compared to the control under controlled glasshouse conditions after a 45-day period post sowing. Among these treatments, treatment T1 (CM212 + E7 + TR11) demonstrated the highest measurements for root length (57.03 cm), shoot length (113.33 cm), fresh shoot weight (25.57 g), root weight (9.15 g), dry shoot weight (3.70 g), dry root weight (1.38 g), and total chlorophyll content (31.12) (Supplementary Table S3). The findings indicate that all Trichoderma isolates led to a reduction in the percent disease index (PDI) relative to the pathogen-inoculated control. Treatment T4 (VL78 + E7 + TR11) exhibited the lowest PDI (31.88%), followed by T1 (CM212 + E7 + TR11) (35.22%), which statistically resembled T7 (Dhiari local + TR11 + E7) (37.81%) (Figure 5). Conversely, the highest PDI was recorded in the pathogen-inoculated control across different varieties, with T8 (Dhiari local+E7) (46.60%) showing the highest, followed by T2 (CM212 + E7) (44.74%), at the 45th day after sowing (Supplementary Table S4).

Growth-promotion efficiency of Trichoderma strains seed biopriming on various growth parameters of maize crop with different treatments: T1: CM212 + E7 + TR11; T2: CM212 + E7; T3: CM21; T4: VL78 + E7 + TR11; T5: VL78 + E7; T6: VL78; T7: Dhiari local +TR11 + E7; T8: Dhiari local+E7; and T9: Dhiari local, where CM212, Dhiari local, and VL78 are moderately susceptible cultivar of maize; E7 is the virulent isolate of Bipolaris maydis; and TR11 is Trichoderma isolate. (A) Experimental crop after harvest to compare physiological growth, (B) growth parameters among various treatments, (C) correlation analysis shows all parameters are positively correlated, (D) correlation coefficient matrix and associated p-values, and (E) percent disease index. Results are expressed as the average of three replications.

 Induction of lignin deposition in maize roots, induction of callose deposition in maize leaves against pathogen invasion and ROS

Lignin deposition within the cell wall serves as a defensive mechanism against plant pathogen invasion into vascular tissues. Histochemical staining of transverse sections of maize root tissues treated with various methods revealed differences in lignin deposition. The treatments, T1 (CM212 + E7 + TR11), T7 (Dhiari local +TR11 + E7), and T4 (VL78 + E7 + TR11), with Trichoderma isolate (TR11), showed the highest lignification in all cultivars compared to the pathogen inoculated and healthy controls. Lignin deposition increased after pathogen inoculation. The strongest increase was observed after treatment with the pathogen only and after combined treatment with TR11 isolate. (Supplementary Figure S1A).

The assessment of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and callose deposition in maize tissues was conducted to elucidate the innate immune response of plants following inoculation with Trichoderma. Notably, ROS, particularly hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), exhibited marked accumulation in maize leaves 48 h postpathogen inoculation, as evidenced by in situ DAB staining. The Trichoderma-treated plants also demonstrated induction of H2O2 accumulation in leaves (Supplementary Figure S1B). Moreover, the analysis of callose deposition, an additional marker of plant innate immune response, in maize leaf tissue after 48 h of treatment, demonstrated a notable rise in both the quantity and area percentage of callose deposition compared to mock controls (Supplementary Figure S1C).

 Analysis of secondary metabolites produced by <italic>Trichoderma</italic> spp. under <italic>in vitro</italic> conditions

To identify metabolites that might be involved in growth promotion and biocontrol effects we further analyzed T. brevicompactum TR11 isolate by GC–MS as it was the most promising strain. A total of 88 compounds were identified from the GC–MS analysis. Results of the GC–MS analysis (Supplementary Figure S2 and Table 2), indicated that the main components of Trichoderma brevicompactum TR11 filtrate were octadecanoic acid (peak area: 16.27%), palmitic acid-TMS (peak area: 9.44%), phosphoric acid-3TMS (peak area: 7.35%) galactopyranose, 5TMS (peak area: 6.52%), 5-(4-nitrophenoxymethyl) (peak area: 5.43%), furane-2-carboxaldehyde (peak area: 5.43%), stearic acid-TMS (peak area: 4.05%), laevulic acid – TMS (peak area: 3.48%), sucrose, 8TMS(peak area: 3.18%) D-fructose, 6-O-[2,3,4,6-tetrakis-O-(trimethylsilyl)-α-d-glucopyranosyl]-1,3,4,5-tetrakis-O-(trimethylsilyl) (peak area: 2.83%), linoleic acid trimethylsilyl ester (peak area: 2.83%), 2-palmitoylglycerol, 2TMS (peak area: 2.53%), 3-methyl-2-furoic acid, TMS (peak area: 2.12%),whereas, other components were present in low percentages; hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (peak area: 1.39%), d-(−)-fructofuranose, pentakis(trimethylsilyl) ether (isomer 2) (peak area: 1.38%), butylated hydroxytoluene (peak area: 1.13) elaidic acid-TMS (peak area: 1.56%), cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid, tert-butyldimethylsilyl ester (peak area: 1.51%), lactose, 8TMS (peak area: 1.21%), butylated hydroxytoluene(peak area: 1.13%). On the contrary, there are many components present in traces (peak area less than 1%).

Detailing compound analysis data.

S. No. Compound name RT Area % of compound
1 Benzenamine, 2,5-dimethyl- 3.193 362,48 0.06
2 N-Trifluoroacetylmorpholine 3.248 54,455 0.09
3 3,6,9-Trioxaundecanedioic acid, bis(trimethylsilyl) ester 3.967 290,536 0.46
4 Dodecane, 2,6,11-trimethyl- 4.062 130,118 0.21
5 Acetic acid, [(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-, trimethylsilyl ester 4.276 132,476 0.21
6 Alanine, 2TMS 4.827 63,366 0.10
7 Dodecane, 2,6,11-trimethyl- 4.91 35,302 0.06
8 Ethyl(2-hydroxyethyl)carbamic acid, O,O’-bis(trimethylsilyl) 5.505 466,303 0.74
9 Levulic acid – TMS 5.575 2,208,558 3.48
10 α-Hydroxyisovaleric acid, (2TMS)- 6.229 61,147 0.10
11 Trisiloxane, 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexamethyl-3,3-bis[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]- 6.323 24,358 0.04
12 Furane-2-carboxaldehyde, 5-(4-nitrophenoxymethyl)- 6.751 3,439,276 5.43
13 Pentanoic acid, 4-methyl-2-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-, trimethylsilyl ester 8.143 16,889 0.03
14 2-Acetylamino-2-methyl-1-propanol, trimethylsilyl ether 8.565 100,668 0.16
15 RT:9.088 9.475 102,771 0.16
16 Phosphoric acid-3TMS 9.326 4,660,031 7.35
17 Hexadecane-1,2-diol, bis(trimethylsilyl) ether 9.59 16,314 0.03
18 Niacin, TMS 9.947 33,460 0.05
19 Phenylacetic acid, monoTMS 10.051 303,526 0.48
20 3-Methyl-2-furoic acid, TMS 10.561 1,346,054 2.12
21 Uracil, 2TMS 11.236 54,149 0.09
22 3,5-Dimethoxymandelic acid, di-TM 11.608 39,513 0.06
23 Fumaric acid, bis-TMS 11.725 63,769 0.10
24 2-Amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol, N-acetyl-, tris(trimethylsilyl) ether 11.942 70,679 0.11
25 Tetradecane 13.286 38,264 0.06
26 Glutaric acid-2TMS 13.417 84,494 0.13
27 Eicosane 15.951 188,097 0.30
28 Butanedioic acid, [(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-, bis(trimethylsilyl) ester 15.977 178,561 0.28
29 Butylated hydroxytoluene 16.4 718,658 1.13
30 2-Aminobenzoxazole, 2TMS 17.339 209,419 0.33
31 3-Phenyllactic acid, 2TMS 18.622 16,709 0.03
32 2-Amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol, N-acetyl-, tris(trimethylsilyl) ether 19.106 140,325 0.22
33 Hexadecane 19.264 43,029 0.07
34 Cyclooctasiloxane, hexadecamethyl- 20.198 68,688 0.11
35 Tartaric acid-4TMS 20.355 55,492 0.09
36 3,5-Di-t-butyl-4-methoxy-1,4-dihydrobenzaldehyde 21.499 302,202 0.48
37 Eicosane 22.039 318,666 0.50
38 Phosphorin, 2,4,6-tris(1,1-dimethylethyl)- 22.819 249,523 0.39
39 Ribose-4TMS 23.068 98,130 0.15
40 Eicosane 23.231 160,961 0.25
41 Cyclononasiloxane, octadecamethyl- 24.371 138,897 0.22
42 Fructose-5TMS 24.849 630,750 1.00
43 d-(−)-Fructofuranose, pentakis(trimethylsilyl) ether (isomer 2) 25.067 876,181 1.38
44 Hexadecyl isopropyl ether 25.665 44,500 0.07
45 β-d-Galactofuranose, 1,2,3,5,6-pentakis-O-(trimethylsilyl)- 25.942 1,021,065 1.61
46 D-Xylopyranose, 1,2,3,4-tetrakis-O-(trimethylsilyl)- 26.26 99,809 0.16
47 Galactopyranose, 5TMS 27.076 2,688,256 4.24
48 Eicosane 27.536 341,517 0.54
49 Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester 27.921 881,521 1.39
50 Cyclononasiloxane, octadecamethyl- 28.081 174,837 0.28
51 n-Pentadecanoic acid 28.446 157,927 0.25
52 Eicosane 28.583 103,152 0.16
53 Galactopyranose, 5TMS 29.371 4,133,277 6.52
54 Palmitic acid-TMS 30.896 5,983,399 9.44
55 Cyclooctasiloxane, hexadecamethyl- 31.475 128,950 0.20
56 Linoleic acid, methyl ester 31.868 463,054 0.73
57 Elaidic acid, methyl ester 32.029 89,988 0.14
58 Methyl stearate 32.657 255,866 0.40
59 Tetrapentacontane 32.508 339,509 0.54
60 Margaric acid-TMS 33.041 93,640 0.15
61 Tetrapentacontane 33.454 105,928 0.17
62 Nonadecanamide 33.866 176,443 0.28
63 Linoleic acid trimethylsilyl ester 34.523 1,791,127 2.83
64 Elaidic acid-TMS 34.646 990,576 1.56
65 cis-5,8,11,14,17-Eicosapentaenoic acid, tert-butyldimethylsilyl ester 35.157 957,151 1.51
66 Stearic acid-TMS 35.255 2,565,588 4.05
67 β-l-Galactopyranose, 6-deoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrakis-O-(trimethylsilyl) 36.603 67,454 0.11
68 Tetrapentacontane 37.034 271,038 0.43
69 Cyclononasiloxane, octadecamethyl- 37.403 147,322 0.23
70 Myristic acid, 2,3-bis(trimethylsiloxy)propyl ester 38.39 696,415 1.10
71 Cyclononasiloxane, octadecamethyl- 40.09 173,936 0.27
72 2-Palmitoylglycerol, 2TMS 41.546 1,606,078 2.53
73 Cyclononasiloxane, octadecamethyl- 42.627 1,96,162 0.31
74 Lactose, 8TMS 42.766 765,944 1.21
75 Sucrose, 8TMS 42.98 2,016,418 3.18
76 d-Fructose, 6-O-[2,3,4,6-tetrakis-O-(trimethylsilyl)-α-d-glucopyranosyl]-1,3,4,5-tetrakis-O-(trimethylsilyl)- 43.338 1,790,957 2.83
77 d-(−)-Ribofuranose, tetrakis(trimethylsilyl) ether (isomer 2) 43.592 751,036 1.19
78 Heptadecanoic acid, glycerine-(1)-monoester, bis-O-trimethylsilyl- 43.895 100,435 0.16
79 Trehalose-8TMS 44.833 473,701 0.75
80 2-Monostearin, 2TMS 45.038 918,991 1.45
81 3-α-Mannobiose, octakis(trimethylsilyl) ether (isomer 2) 45.513 128,986 0.20
82 Per-O-trimethylsilyl-(3-O-α-d-mannopyranosyl-4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-d-glucitol) 45.513 128,986 0.20
83 Glycerol monostearate, 2TMS 45.724 10,311,392 16.27
84 Maltose, 8TMS 47.626 360,735 0.57
85 Maltose, octakis(trimethylsilyl) ether (isomer 1) 47.931 255,695 0.40
86 2,3-Dihydroxypropyl icosanoate, 2TMS 48.882 131,999 0.21
87 Cyclononasiloxane, octadecamethyl- 51.602 81,090 0.13
88 3,5-Cyclo-6,8(14),22-ergostatriene 53.616 148,948 0.24

This includes secondary metabolite compound names, retention times (RT), peak areas (area), and the percentage of each compound in the total composition (% of compound).

 Discussion

In this study, Trichoderma strains were isolated and characterized from the Western Ghats of India, reflecting Trichoderma as a key mycobiome component in varied ecosystems, such as forests, supported by the studies by Kamala et al. (2015) and Ghorbanpour et al. (2018). In our study, a multigene approach involving the tef-1α, ITS1, and ITS4 gene sequences was used to accurately classify 19 Trichoderma isolates into seven distinct species: T. koningiopsis, T. brevicompactum, T. caribbaeum var. caribbaeum, T. lixii, T. asperellum, T. atroviride, and T. erinaceum. Similarly, Zheng et al. (2021) used tef-1α and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) sequences to identify Trichoderma isolates, including species such as T. achlamydosporum and T. aquatica.

Trichoderma spp. exhibit strong antagonistic potential through mycoparasitism, competition, antibiosis and induce systemic resistance in plants, which helps reduce the incidence and severity of diseases caused by phytopathogens (Atanasova et al., 2013; Vargas et al., 2014; Cherkupally et al., 2017). According to the in vitro results, the T. brevicompactum TR11 isolates exhibited significant inhibitory potential against the B. maydis E7 isolates, restricting its mycelial growth by up to 60% compared to other isolates in the dual culture assay. Numerous studies have supported the antagonistic potential of certain Trichoderma species, against Exserohilum turcicum, Bipolaris oryzae, and Colletotrichum graminicola (Ma et al., 2023; Khalili et al., 2012; Manzar et al., 2021). The findings from the glasshouse experiments highlight the antagonistic capabilities of Trichoderma isolates against B. maydis, in maize plants. Treatment T1 (CM212 + E7 + TR11), which comprised the moderately susceptible maize variety CM212, the virulent strain E7, and the Trichoderma isolate TR11, exhibited significant improvements in several plant growth parameters, such as root and shoot lengths, fresh and dry weights of shoots, as well as a reduction in disease severity compared to the pathogen-inoculated control under glasshouse conditions. In a previous study, seeds of Celosia cristata treated with Trichoderma harzianum Th62 also showed significantly increased plant height, diameter of the stem, number of branches, dry weight of root, stem, leaf, and flower and enhanced resistance against Alternaria alternata, Rhizoctonia solani, Cystospora chrysosperma, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and Fusarium oxysporum (Hou et al., 2021).

In our study treatment T1, which combined the moderately susceptible maize variety CM212, the B. maydis virulent strain E7, and the Trichoderma isolate TR11, showed a marked increase in the activities of defense enzymes such as POX, polyphenol oxidase, and superoxide dismutase compared to pathogen-treated control and the untreated, unchallenged healthy control. This increased defense enzymatic activity is vital for reinforcing the plant defense mechanisms and, as a result, slows the progression of the disease. Our findings align with existing literature that highlights the importance of enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase and POX in biological control and plant disease resistance (Zhang et al., 2008; Petrov and Van Breusegem, 2012; Singh and Singh, 2012; Kashyap et al., 2021). In our experiments, maize plants treated with Trichoderma isolates TR11 displayed significant callose deposition and lignification levels, which contributed to their resistance against MLB. This is consistent with the findings that Trichoderma spp. treated plants exhibited increased activities of various defense enzymes, including glucanase, POX, and polyphenol oxidase, alongside enhanced cell wall lignification and callose deposition compared to untreated controls (Singh et al., 2019; Keswani et al., 2019; Keswani et al., 2014; Siddaiah et al., 2017; Ben Amira et al., 2018; Kashyap et al., 2022). The TR11 isolate exhibited strong biocontrol potential, demonstrating both growth promotion and antagonism through experiments on antimicrobial activity, in vitro antibiosis, pot trials for plant growth promotion, and induction of systemic resistance. A total of 88 compounds were detected in the ethyl acetate extracts. The primary constituents include fatty acids, esters, aldehydes, hydrazides, pyrazines, imidazoles, triazines, and fatty amides. The primary active ingredient in our investigations T. brevicompactum TR11 isolate acetonic extract was glycerol monostearate 2TMS, followed by palmitic acid-TMS and phosphoric acid-3TMS in the Trichoderma TR11 filtrate. Similar findings were found in Trichoderma species, such as T. harzianum and Trichoderma viride produce secondary metabolites such as butanoic acid, propanoic acid, and hexadecanoic acid, which inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi, such as Colletotrichum lagenarum, S. sclerotiorum, and Cercospora beticola (Agoramoorthy et al., 2007; Liu et al., 2008; Altieri et al., 2007; Avis et al., 2000; Pohl et al., 2011). The fatty acids such as pentadecanoic acid, butanedioic acid, dodecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, and octadecenoic acid exhibit antifungal and antibacterial properties against various plant pathogens.

 Conclusion

Exploring the biodiversity hotspot of the Western Ghats of India, Trichoderma isolates were meticulously screened, revealing 7% with robust biocontrol potential and growth-promoting activities. Notably, three novel Trichoderma isolates—T. caribbaeum var. caribbaeum, T. lixii, and T. brevicompactum—were reported for the first time from this region. Molecular characterization, based on ITS-rRNA and tef-1α gene sequencing, identified major isolates, enhancing our understanding of genetic diversity. In vitro screening demonstrated substantial mycelial growth inhibition by 24 Trichoderma spp. isolates against B. maydis, underscoring their biocontrol efficacy. The biochemical defense mechanisms in maize, including elevated enzymatic activities and seed biopriming with Trichoderma isolates TR11, showcased promising disease reduction and growth promotion attributes. Induction of lignin and callose depositions in maize roots and leaves postpathogen invasion highlighted intricate defense responses. This study provides a comprehensive insight into the multifaceted roles of Trichoderma spp. in boosting plant health and combating phytopathogens, emphasizing their potential in sustainable agriculture and paving the way for the future research endeavors in crop protection and productivity enhancement.

 Data availability statement

The datasets presented in this study can be found in online repositories. The names of the repository/repositories and accession number(s) can be found at: NCBI database.

 Author contributions

NM: Conceptualization, Data curation, Methodology, Resources, Software, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. AK: Formal analysis, Software, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – review & editing. MR: Writing – review & editing. PS: Funding acquisition, Writing – review & editing. AS: Funding acquisition, Writing – review & editing.

 Funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by project RPP01_NaziaManzar, Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms (ICAR-NBAIM), and Indian Soil Microbiome Project.

The authors would like to acknowledge the Director of Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms (ICAR-NBAIM) Mau for providing laboratory facilities to conduct this research.

 Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

 Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

 Supplementary material

The Supplementary material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1493272/full#supplementary-material

 Abbreviations

ITS Internal transcribed spacer tef-1α Translation elongation factor 1-α DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid BLAST Basic local alignment search tool NCBI National Center for Biotechnology Information rRNA Ribosomal ribonucleic acid SOD Superoxide dismutase PPO Polyphenol oxidase PO Peroxidase PDI Percent disease index ROS Reactive oxygen species H2O2 Hydrogen peroxide DAB 3,3’-Diaminobenzidine GC–MS Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry MLB Maydis leaf blight SCLB Southern corn leaf blight rpb2 RNA polymerase II second largest subunit DDBJ DNA data bank of Japan

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