# Inhibitory Effect of Trichoderma longibrachiatum on Growth of Fusarium Species and Accumulation of Fumonisins

## TL;DR

A strain of Trichoderma fungus can inhibit harmful Fusarium fungi and reduce dangerous mycotoxins while promoting plant growth.

## Contribution

Discovery of Trichoderma longibrachiatum A25011's dual biocontrol and growth-promoting properties against Fusarium and fumonisins.

## Key findings

- Trichoderma longibrachiatum A25011 inhibited Fusarium species growth by up to 58.22%.
- The strain reduced fumonisin accumulation in rice cultures by up to 99.35%.
- Application of the strain increased peanut plant growth and biomass significantly.

## Abstract

Fusarium spp. cause devastating crop diseases and produce carcinogenic mycotoxins such as fumonisins, threatening global food safety and human health. In this study, Trichoderma longibrachiatum A25011, isolated from apples in Aksu, Xinjiang, exhibited significant antagonistic activity with mycelial growth inhibition rates of 54.52% against F. verticillioides 48.62% against F. proliferatum, and 58.22% against F. oxysporum in confrontation assays. Enzyme activity detection revealed high chitinase (583.21 U/mg protein) and moderate cellulase (43.92 U/mg protein) production, which may have the capacity to degrade fungal cell walls. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analyses enabled the quantification of fungal hormones including gibberellin A3 (GA3, 2.44 mg/L), cytokinins (cis-zeatin riboside (CZR): 0.69 mg/L; trans-zeatin riboside (TZR): 0.004 mg/L; kinetin: 0.006 mg/L), and auxins (indole-3-acetic acid (IAA): 0.35 mg/L; abscisic acid: 0.06 mg/L). Application of a T. longibrachiatum A25011 spore suspension around the roots of peanut plants enhanced growth by 13.20% (height), 5.65% (stem and leaf biomass), and 39.13% (root biomass). Notably, A25011 reduced F. proliferatum-derived fumonisin accumulation in rice-based cultures by 93.58% (6 d) and 99.35% (10 d), suggesting biosynthetic suppression. The results demonstrated that T. longibrachiatum strain A25011 exhibited excellent biocontrol capability against Fusarium spp., proving its dual role in simultaneously suppressing fungal growth and fumonisin accumulation while promoting plant growth. T. longibrachiatum A25011 could be applied as a multifunctional biocontrol agent in sustainable agriculture in the future.