# The co-application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and Trichoderma on anthracnose disease in common vetch

## TL;DR

This study shows that using beneficial fungi can help control anthracnose disease in common vetch, improving plant health and reducing disease impact.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the combined use of AM fungi and Trichoderma to control anthracnose in common vetch for the first time.

## Key findings

- AM fungus and Trichoderma reduced anthracnose incidence by up to 34.62% individually and 15.39% when combined.
- These treatments enhanced defense enzymes and soil enzyme activities, improving plant resistance and nutrient uptake.
- Pyraclostrobin showed the highest disease reduction at 53.85% but was less effective than the combined biological treatments.

## Abstract

Common vetch (Vicia sativa) is an important legume used for forage and green manure. Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spinaciae is a significant disease affecting common vetch, resulting in significant damage and yield reductions. Furthermore, there is a lack of effective control methods for this disease.

This study evaluated the control of anthracnose in V. sativa under greenhouse conditions, focusing on the efficacy of 25% pyraclostrobin, the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus tortuosum, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum, both individually and in combination.

The results showed that 25% pyraclostrobin, G. tortuosum, and T. longibrachiatum both individually and in combination reduced the incidence of anthracnose by 53.85%, 34.62%, 34.62%, and 15.39%, respectively. Correspondingly, the disease index decreased by 68.97%, 34.48%, 32.76%, and 20.69%. Notably, the application of G. tortuosum and T. longibrachiatum alone enhanced common vetch defense enzyme activities of peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and polyphenol oxidase by 23.57% and 22.10%, 27.12% and 26.76%, 21.54% and 19.33%, and 35.79% and 34.35%, respectively (P < 0.05). Moreover, the application of AM fungi and Trichoderma led to increased activities of soil urease, catalase, and neutral phosphatase by 12.77% to 111.17%, as well as improved nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by 12.12% to 13.88% and 13.91% to 35.79%, respectively.

Our findings highlight that G. tortuosum and T. longibrachiatum can effectively induce resistance against anthracnose in common vetch, demonstrating significant control efficacy.