Effect of Using Trichoderma Sp. On Turfgrass Quality Under Different Levels of Salinity

Lawns achieve environmental, functional, and aesthetical roles in urban environments. The objectives of this research were to assess the effect of different salinity levels on Trichoderma isolates and to study the effect of Trichoderma spp. on perennial ryegrass under different levels of salinity. T. harzianum (ThLem2017-01) and T. atroviride (TaDP2019-01) isolates had a higher mycelium growth rate than T. atroviride (TaDP2019-02) when salinity levels were low. In contrast, the mycelium growth rate of T. atroviride (TaDP2019-02) isolate at high salinity levels had superior results. Turfgrass seeds that were inoculated with (TaDP2019-02) isolate maintained high radicle length, coleoptile length, and leaf length under high salinity levels. Increasing salinity level decreased clippings’ fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), and shoot and root dry weight of perennial ryegrass. Interestingly, perennial ryegrass pots that were treated with (TaDP2019-02) isolate had increased FW and DW by 16 to 114% and 24 to 76%, respectively. Soils that were inoculated with Trichoderma (TaDP2019-02) had higher CO2 respiration (75%) than the control. Therefore, using T. atroviride (TaDP2019-02) isolate revealed promising results in increasing plant biomass and as an environmentally friendly alternative factor to overcome salinity stress.