Evaluation of Trichoderma Isolates for Induced Soil Salinity Stress Management in Egg Plant

It is essential to assess the salt tolerance of crops grown in saline soil and irrigated with saline waters to increase the productivity. Inthe present studyeffect of four native isolates of Trichoderma harzianum on salt stress of brinjal (0, 2, 4, 6 dSm⁻¹) was studied. Salt stress caused significant decrease in germination and seedling growth in untreated plants while seed treatment has significantly increased the germination, shoot and root growth during salinity stress. At higher salinity (6 dSm⁻¹) level proline and phenolics were higher in treated plants. The treatment also significantly increased the available phosphorus content in the rhizosphere. Among the four isolates Th-5 was found to be the best in imparting salinity tolerance even at higher salt stress level under the given experimental conditions.