P-074 - Impact of Simultaneous Exposure to Trichoderma- and Fusarium-Derived Volatiles on the Growth of Soybean Seedlings in In Vitro Chambers

Fusarium oxysporum, the causal agent of Fusarium root rot and wilt disease, poses a significant threat to soybean production by reducing yield. Trichoderma spp. have shown significant antagonistic potential against F. oxysporum and produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that promote plant growth. We investigated the effects of VOCs produced by four Trichoderma strains, including T. asperellum ICC 012, T. harzianum T-22, T. virens G-41, and T. viride (from Custom GP), on soybean growth in the presence of pathogenic F. oxysporum. The experiment was performed in special Plant-Microbe VOC Chamber prototypes in triplicate. A 6 mm plug from each Trichoderma and F. oxysporum strains were placed on separate compartments of the I plate with PDA and incubated for three days at 25ºC. Ten surface-sterilized soybean seeds were sown in a 1-inch layer of sterile potting medium at the base of a 946 mL glass vessel. Each three-day old culture plate was inverted and secured on top of a vessel using parafilm and were incubated under16:8 photoperiod at 25ºC for 10 days. Controls included individual Trichoderma strains, F. oxysporum, and uncultured plates. Germination was recorded at 3 and, 7 days post-sowing. After 10 days, root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight were measured. These experimental findings should provide insights into the effectiveness of VOCs from four Trichoderma species in enhancing soybean growth and performance under pathogen stress.