Tarımsal-endüstri atıkları üzerinde yetiştirilen Trichoderma harzianum kullanılarak bitki patojenlerine karşı sürdürülebilir bir biyofungisit geliştirilmesi

Agricultural practices are crucial for many industries, particularly for food production. Agricultural crops face various challenges throughout the supply chain, from cultivation to consumption, resulting in up to 80% crop loss each year. Several solution strategies have been developed to minimize crop loss. However, chemical products, which are commonly used to combat phytopathogens, exhibit harm to living organisms, nature, water resources, and soil structure. The use of biological alternatives is promoted to eliminate the side effects of chemicals. Trichoderma harzianum is a well-known biocontrol agent with its antagonistic activities through mycoparasitism, competition for nutrients and space, and the production of antimicrobial secondary metabolites, while simultaneously promoting plant growth. In this study, the antifungal activities of T. harzianum against five phytopathogens, which are Fusarium solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Aspergillus welwitschiae, Colletotrichum coccodes, and Botrytis cinerea, were demonstrated. Additionally, the effects of both non-volatile and volatile organic compounds produced by T. harzianum were tested against these phytopathogens. The strongest inhibitory activity was 96.76% against C. coccodes, similarly there were promising antagonistic activity against other phytopathogens. Its growth-promoting properties were also assessed, and indole-3-acetic acid and siderophore production was observed. Moreover, the cultivation of T. harzianum was conducted on a medium based on apple pomace for a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach, contributing to the circular economy and valorization of the agro-industrial waste. These findings highlight the potential of T. harzianum as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides and as a plant growth-promoting agent in sustainable agriculture. Keywords: Biofungicide, T. harzianum, Apple Pomace, Phytopathogens, Mycoparasitism