Effects of Trichoderma Combined with Melatonin on Cucumber Physiology and Root Rot Control

doi:10.16409/j.cnki.2095-039x.2026.02.055

Abstract

Abstract: To clarify the effects of the combined application of Trichoderma asperellum and melatonin on the growth, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and root rot occurrence of cucumber seedlings, different treatments were set up in this study to systematically detect the morphological indicators of seedlings, the activity of protective enzymes in leaves, and the control effects against root rot. The results showed that the combined application of T. asperellum and melatonin could significantly promote the growth of cucumber seedlings, enhance the activity of protective enzymes in leaves, improve the physiological and biochemical characteristics of seedlings, and thereby enhance the control effect on root rot. Among them, the combined application of 1.0×10⁶ cfu/g T. asperellum and 100 μmol/L melatonin had the best effect. Thirty days after the sowing of cucumbers, all the indicators of this treatment reached the optimal level: the plant height and stem diameter of the seedlings reached 16.39 cm and 5.00 mm, respectively; the activities of leaf catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) reached 128.50 U/g, 164.39 U/g, 312.96 U/g and 76.97 U/g, respectively; The contents of chlorophyll in leaves, root activity, soluble sugar and soluble protein in leaves reached 4.93 mg/g, 113.56 μg/ (g·h), 21.31 mg/g and 47.27 μg/g, respectively. The above-mentioned indicators were generally increased by 64.68%—122.07% compared with the control treatment (i.e., the treatment where both T. asperellum and melatonin was 0). Moreover, the combined application of the pathogen at 1×10⁶ cells /mL, T. asperellum at 1.0×10⁶ cfu/g and melatonin at 100 μmol/L achieved the highest control efficacy against cucumber root rot in pot experiment, reaching 82.72%. This study preliminarily analyzed the physiological mechanism by which the combined application of T. asperellum and melatonin regulates the resistance of cucumber seedlings to root rot, providing a theoretical basis and practical support for the green control of cucumber root rot.

Key words: Trichoderma, melatonin, cucumber, root rot, physiological and biochemical characteristics

CLC Number:

WANG Jiatong, MA Guangshu, LI Mei, ZHU Guangliang, LIU Mingxin, CHEN Qingqi, LIAN Hua. Effects of Trichoderma Combined with Melatonin on Cucumber Physiology and Root Rot Control[J]. Chinese Journal of Biological Control, 2026, 42(5): 1254-1263.

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