Impact of Trichoderma on the microbiome of wheat crop plants and its biostimulant potential under water stress conditions

Abstract

Agriculture is part of the backbone of our current society, whose constant growth demands an increase in crop yields to ensure the supply of the entire population. However, all predictions point out that climate change will negatively affect crop production and food security worldwide in the coming years. Wheat is one of the most widely consumed crops in the world, being a staple food and in many cases necessary in the diet of a large part of humans and also of animals. However, its production is negatively affected by drought episodes, which are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change. In this context, the challenge for modern agriculture is to achieve yield increases as well as the resilience and adaptation of crops to variations in environmental conditions. However, current agronomic practices are highly dependent on the use of agrochemicals, whose inadequate and sometimes indiscriminate application is causing soil contamination and biodiversity losses. In recent years, the use of microorganisms as biostimulants and biofertilizers has emerged as a promising alternative to replace or reduce chemical inputs in agricultural systems. The present doctoral thesis is focused on evaluating the potential of Trichoderma as a biostimulant agent in wheat plants under water scarcity conditions, as well as the effect of its application on the microbiome of this crop.