P141 TRICHODERMA SPECIES CAN PROTECT PLANT FROM

P141
TRICHODERMA SPECIES CAN PROTECT PLANT FROM ARSENIC IN CONTAMINATED
ENVIRONMENTS
Michelina Ruocco1, Antonio Giandonato Caporale2, Nadia Lombardi2, Alessia Sommella2, Shah Md.
Golam Gousul Azam2, Massimo Pigna2, Stefania Lanzuise2, Sheridan L. Woo2, Francesco Vinale1,
Roberta Marra2, Rosaria Varlese2, Gelsomina Manganiello2, Alberto Pascale2, Matteo Lorito1,2
1Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Portici, Napoli, Italy
2Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Portici Napoli, Italy
[email protected]
Several are the microorganisms extensively exploited in agriculture for plant growth promotion, biological
control and, in general, as positive modifiers of crop metabolism. Among these, it is well established that,
fungi belonging to Trichoderma species may enhance the development of root by promoting the release of
nutrients from the soil and more in general may improve soil health. Moreover, recent studies have revealed
that Trichoderma spp. are able to tolerate moderate concentrations of As in vitro, as well as alleviate Asmediated stress on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under greenhouse conditions. In our study we analysed the
influence of two species of Trichoderma (T. harzianum T22 e T. atroviride P1) on the growth of lettuce plants
(Lactuca sativa L.) irrigated with As-contaminated water, and their effect on the uptake and accumulation of
the contaminant in the plant tissues. It has been previously demonstrated that accumulation of this nonessential element occurs mainly into the root system and reduces both biomass development and net
photosynthesis rate (while altering the plant P status). The two strains of Trichoderma added as a soil
treatment partially alleviated the toxic effect of As, essentially by decreasing the accumulation of the
compound in the tissues, and enhanced plant growth, P status and net photosynthesis rate. Our results
indicate that inoculation of lettuce plants with selected Trichoderma strains can be recommended, beside the
classical biocontrol application, to alleviate As phytotoxicity in contaminated environments.

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