Biochemical responses of rice (Oryza sativa L.) as influenced by Trichoderma spp. under stresses like drought and blast disease

Abstract

National food security systems largely depend on the production and productivity of rice which is challenged by biotic and abiotic stresses. Among biotic stresses, blast, a devastating fungal disease of rice is cosmopolite in its presence. A drought like situation also occurs at a similar temperature and moisture levels and aggravates blast disease. There are instances of occurrence of blast and drought on single crop that catapult the loss in yield. In the present study, the impact of isolates of endophytic fungus Trichoderma on rice response to drought and blast disease was investigated. Five different isolates of Trichoderma were used in the study, of which three [T-14, 94(A) and IRRI-2] were obtained from IRRI and two (OT-3 and OT-8) were isolated from native soil by serial dilution method. Seeds treated with five isolates were sown in different pots and further the crop was challenge inoculated with Pyricularia grisea and drought stress induced by withdrawing irrigation. The studies on biochemical parameters revealed an augmentation in CMS, phenol, peroxidase, chitinase and SOD which were known to alleviate these stresses through various mechanisms. The study also revealed a reduction in the level of oxidative chemicals like ascorbate peroxidase, proline, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide due to interference of Trichoderma spp.