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Article

The Physiological Effect of Trichoderma viride on Melon Yield and Its Ability to Suppress Rhizoctonia solani

by
Jingwei Dou
1,
Jingyi Liu
1,
Guangshu Ma
1,*,
Hua Lian
1 and
Mei Li
2,*
1
College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
2
State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2318; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102318
Submission received: 2 September 2024 / Revised: 26 September 2024 / Accepted: 1 October 2024 / Published: 9 October 2024
(This article belongs to the Section Pest and Disease Management)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Melon damping off, which has a negative impact on melon quality and yield, can be safely and effectively managed with Trichoderma. Melon cultivar ‘Longtian No. 1’ was evaluated at both the adult and seedling stages in a pot experiment. The Rs and PD liquids were utilized as CK1 and CK2, respectively. Trichoderma viride Tv286 treatments T1B, T2B, T3B, and T4B were used based on Rs at concentrations of 104, 105, 106, and 107 CFU·g−1, respectively. The impact of several treatments on the antioxidant system and seedling quality of melon were assessed at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing. We examined the effects of several treatments on melon quality, yield attributes, and physiological and biochemical markers during the adult stage at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination. The effects of several treatments on melon damping off were also studied. Applying T. viride Tv286 at different rates effectively increased the activities of enzymes, including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), in the leaves of melon seedlings, significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and improved the root–shoot ratio and seedling strength index. In terms of its influence on promoting the effect of antioxidant system indicators, T3B performed well. Melon seedlings treated with T3B showed higher CAT, POD, SOD, APX, and PPO activities in their leaves 35 days after sowing compared to CK1 (189.74, 169.61, 175.36, 224.20, and 477.39%, respectively). The strong seedling index and root–shoot ratio showed improvements of 130.43 and 79.71%, respectively, and the MDA content dropped by 35.66% at 35 days after sowing compared to CK1. Varying the rates at which T. viride Tv286 was applied increased the nitrate reductase (NR) activity and nitrate nitrogen, proline (Pro), chlorophyll, soluble sugar, and soluble protein contents in mature melon leaves, increasing melon quality and yield. T3B is the most effective marketing campaign. Compared to CK1, mature T3B leaves had higher NR activity, nitrate nitrogen content, chlorophyll content, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, and Pro content 30 days after melon pollination (100.40, 135.17, 68.59, 93.65, 158.13, and 238.67%, respectively). The soluble solids, soluble protein, soluble sugar, vitamin C contents, and yield of melon fruit increased by 50.07, 126.82, 60.62, 70.79, and 61.45%, respectively, at 30 days after melon pollination compared to CK1. Optimal management of melon damping off can be accomplished with the application of T. viride Tv286 at different concentrations, with T3B exhibiting the best effect. The control effects reached 90.48 and 72.99% at the seedling and adult stages, respectively. Overall, T. viride Tv286 improved seedling quality, damping off control efficacy, melon yield and quality, and the antioxidant system during the seedling stage and enhanced physiological and biochemical characteristics during the adult stage. This study indicates the potential of T. viride Tv286 conidia as a biological control agent because it can prevent plant disease, increase yield, and improve quality.

1. Introduction

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a widely grown fruit that is a member of the cucumber genus and family (Cucurbitaceae) [1]. China is one of the world’s major producers and consumers of melon [2]. China accounted for 35.9 and 49.2% of the global melon cultivation area and output, respectively, in 2021, with a planting area of 387,000 ha and a yield of 1407.2 tons, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) [3]. As the area planted with melon and the multiple cropping index increase, soilborne illnesses become increasingly common and harmful. Rhizoctonia solani-induced damping off is on the rise annually, and it is difficult to manage as it spreads swiftly, affecting a wide region. Incidence rates typically range from 15 to 20%, with more than 70% in more severe cases [4,5]. Damping off complicates melon production and is usually treated with chemical pesticides. However, the long-term use of chemical agents has increased pathogen resistance and caused agricultural non-point source pollution [6]. Biological control using fungi, such as Trichoderma, Rhizobium, and Bacillus, has become an important method for preventing and controlling soilborne diseases, such as damping off, because it does not cause environmental pollution and does not result in drug resistance [7].
Trichoderma is a fungus in the Ascomycota subclass, the Sordariomycetes subclass, the Hyphomycetes subclass, the Hypocreomycetidae subclass, the Hyphomycetes order, the Sphaeriales order, or the Hyphomycetes family, as is Hypocrea [8]. It has good control effects on soilborne fungal diseases caused by Fusarium spp., Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, and other fungi [9,10]. Liu et al. [11] demonstrated that the biological control efficiency of T. asperellum CMT10 on strawberry root rot was 63.09%, and it increased plant height, root length, total fresh weight, root fresh weight, stem fresh weight, and root dry weight by 20.09, 22.39, 87.11, 101.58, 79.82, and 72.33% compared with the water control, respectively. Luo et al. [12] demonstrated that among different T. koningiopsis Tk905 application methods, banana wilt disease was best controlled by Tk905 irrigation (8 mL), reaching 52.41%, followed by Tk905 incorporated with the soil treatment group (49.6%). Furthermore, the combination of Tk905 with pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole fungicides resulted in a synergistic effect of 71.40%. Harman showed that Trichoderma increased plant disease resistance by secreting enzymes and secondary compounds that degrade cell walls [13]. A slight positive correlation exists between the activity of defense enzymes and plant disease resistance [14]. The defense enzyme system, which is primarily composed of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), primarily results in plant disease resistance. There is considerable electrolyte loss in the cell when the plant becomes contaminated. A crucial part of plants’ defense against disease is malondialdehyde (MDA), which can also be used as a biomarker of the level of membrane lipid peroxidation [15]. When vermicompost tea and T. harzianum were applied together, the incidence of root rot disease in common beans was reduced by 94.51%, while the POD and PPO activities in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) leaves increased, as observed by Karima and Samah [16] during their comprehensive biological control strategy study of root rot disease in common beans. Guo et al. [17] found that the occurrence of root rot in red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) was successfully decreased by inoculation with T. harzianum T891. Inoculation with T. harzianum T891 decreased the incidence rate and severity of root rot in red kidney bean by 40.62 and 68.03%, respectively, compared to inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum Fu13. It also increased the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT by 7.32, 38.48, and 98.31%, respectively, and decreased the MDA content by 23.70%.
Ahmad et al. [18] showed that Trichoderma was a significant rhizosphere fungus that promotes plant growth. Numerous research studies in this field have shown that Trichoderma can improve plant physiological activities, stimulate plant growth, and enhance plant yield and quality by secreting plant growth hormones and other chemicals. For example, Yani et al. [19] found that Trichoderma spp. increased plant height, root length, and tuber weight in garlic plants by 0.8, 9–23, and 21–51%, respectively. Zhao et al. [20] found that, after diluting the filtrate of T. afroharzianum TM2–4 culture 100 times, the hypocotyl length, root length, and vitality index of tomato increased by 28.7, 19.4, and 62.1%, respectively. Metwally et al. [21] found that T. aviride and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increased the fresh and dry weight of onions, promoted their morphological indicators, such as leaf area, stem length, and root length, as well as increased the onion pigment content. According to Liu et al. [22], the application of the Hartsmus biofertilizer increased the plant height (100.38 cm), stem thickness (1.34 cm), root thickness (1.01 m), and total plant weight (8.66 g) of Bupleurum chinense by 20.52, 21.82, 38.36, and 126.70%, respectively, compared to the control. The biological fertilizer T. harzianum considerably increased the concentrations of saikosaponin A (0.67%), C (0.65%), and D (0.71%) in Bupleurum chinense by 8.06, 47.73, and 9.23%, respectively, compared to the control.
The physiological mechanisms controlling the protective and management effects of T. viride against R. solani in melon are not yet well documented. We therefore conducted a thorough investigation into the effects of T. viride Tv286 on the antioxidant system, physiological characteristics, yield, and quality of melon seedlings and its ability to prevent and control R. solani in melon. This study provides the theoretical foundation for the development and use of T. viride for safe, high-yield, and superior melon cultivation.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Materials

2.1.1. Melon Cultivar

Melon cultivar ‘Longtian No. 1’ obtained from Xiangnong Seed Corporation Ltd., Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, was used in this experiment.

2.1.2. Test Medium

Potato dextrose agar (PDA) (200 g potato, 20 g glucose, 10 g agar, and 1000 mL distilled water) and potato dextrose (PD) culture media (200 g potato, 20 g glucose, and 1000 mL distilled water) were prepared following the methods of Li et al. [23]. The Trichoderma-selective culture medium PDAM (200 g of peeled potato, 20 g of glucose, 20 g of agar, 0.3 g of chloramphenicol, 0.02 g of rose red (Bengal red), and 1000 mL distilled water) was prepared following the methods of Masunaka et al. [24].

2.1.3. Test Strain

Trichoderma viride Tv286 was provided by the Trichoderma research team at Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University’s College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences’ Institute of Plant Protection’s Trichoderma research team provided R. solani (Rs).
Trichoderma viride Tv286 was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of pine trees in Heilongjiang, China, and identified and stored at the Trichoderma Research Group of Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University’s College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. HBY-18 was the initial strain number. A plate confrontation test showed that this strain both stimulated the growth of melon seedlings and significantly inhibited the growth of melon-specialized Fusarium oxysporum. Trichoderma viride Tv286 is considered safe and does not require strain safety testing because it is derived from natural soil.

2.1.4. Test Substrate Material

Vermiculite and turf obtained from the Daqing Agricultural Production Materials Company, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China, were used in this experiment. The substrate material was a 2:1 blend of turf and vermiculite (v:v). The following were the basic physicochemical properties of the substrate material: pH of 6.92; 5.63% organic matter; 0.84% total nitrogen; 137.79 mg·kg−1 alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen; 130.29 mg·kg−1 fast-acting phosphorus; and 198.63 mg·kg−1 fast-acting potassium. After being screened to a thickness of 1 mm, the combined substrate was heated to 160 °C for 2 h to sterilize it. It was sterilized for an additional 2 h at 160 °C after chilling naturally and then cooled for use.

2.2. Preparation of Trichoderma viride Conidia Powder

Trichoderma viride were grown as an activation culture on PDA culture material for 3 days at 28 °C in the dark. Five 5 mm diameter samples were collected from the edges of each colony to create a Trichoderma spore suspension. These samples were then placed in PDA culture media and left in the dark for 7 days at 28 °C. Subsequently, the spores were cleaned with distilled water to remove them. They were diluted with sterile water, covered with Trichoderma-selective medium, and incubated at 25–28 °C for a few days. The number of Trichoderma conidia was determined by counting the colonies. After soaking barley grains overnight at room temperature in clean water, they were strained, and 1 kg of the grains was placed in a preservation bag and sterilized. Trichoderma viride suspensions were added after chilling, and cultures were grown for 2–3 weeks at 25 °C. The grains were rinsed with sterile water, and the large grain clumps were removed with a filter. Trichoderma viride conidium powder was created by crushing, filtering, and drying the filtrate after adding 10% talcum powder. For the experiment, 1.5 × 109 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia was used.

2.3. Preparation of a Rhizoctonia solani Mycelial Suspension

Rhizoctonia solani were cultured on PDA culture media for 3 days at 28 °C in the dark after the agar surface was properly cleaned with distilled water. Five 5 mm diameter samples were collected from the periphery of each fungal colony. These samples were placed into 250 mL conical flasks containing 100 mL of the PD liquid culture medium. After removing the mycelium using double gauze, the filtrate was centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 10 min. Sterile water was then used to prepare the mycelium suspension, which had a concentration of 1.1 × 107 CFU·mL−1 and a light transmission rate of 1.8%.

2.4. Test Methods

2.4.1. Seedling Test

The experiment was conducted at Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University’s teaching base for the College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture in China from April to June 2022 in a greenhouse. Once the test substrate material was added, 5.25 kg of different concentrations of T. viride conidia were placed into plastic seedling culture dishes (30.5 cm × 20.5 cm × 8.6 cm). A total of 120 melon seeds were placed in each dish, and after germination, 80 seedlings of the same size were retained. To ensure proper growth, 1000 mL of sterile water was provided to the melons every 2 days after they were seeded.
Ten days after the melon was sown, 240 mL of an R. solani mycelium suspension per dish was used to inoculate the roots, resulting in a 3 mL aliquot per plant. The experiment consisted of 6 treatments, with 6 disks each and 5 iterations, in a randomized block design.
The treatment groups were as follows:
(1)
240 mL of R. solani mycelium suspension and 104 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia (T1B);
(2)
240 mL of R. solani mycelium suspension and 105 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia (T2B);
(3)
240 mL of R. solani mycelium suspension and 106 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia (T3B);
(4)
240 mL of R. solani mycelium suspension and 107 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia (T4B);
(5)
240 mL of R. solani mycelium suspension only (CK1);
(6)
240 mL of PD solution only (CK2).
To measure the growth markers of melon seedlings, 25 plants (5 plants per replication) were selected from each treatment 35 days after sowing. To determine the antioxidant system markers in melon seedlings, 50 plants (10 plants per replicate) were selected from each treatment at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing. The incidence of damping off was determined 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 days after inoculation of melon seedlings with R. solani. For each treatment, 50 plants were selected (10 plants for each replication), and the control effect and disease index were computed.

2.4.2. Adult Plant Stages Test

This trial was conducted in a plastic greenhouse at the Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University teaching center for the College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture in China from April to July 2022. The potting soil described in Section 2.1.4 was used. Plastic pots (30 cm upper diameter, 27 cm lower diameter, 30 cm height, and 20 L volume) were purchased from Hebei Qianyuan Plastic Products Co., Ltd., Langfang, Hebei, China. Each bucket contained 15 kg of substrate (7 cm from the top edge). Different T. viride conidia concentrations were added to the plastic buckets to inoculate the substrate. Concurrently, evenly distributed 1.5 g of potassium sulfate, 4.5 g of diammonium phosphate, and 7.5 g of urea were mixed with the substrate in each bucket.
This experiment used the same experimental setup as that described in Section 2.4.1 with a randomized block design of potted plants and 6 treatments. Each treatment contained 50 buckets (specified as a plot) and was repeated five times. Within the plot, the distance between each bucket was 30 cm, and the interval between each repetition was 70 cm.
Six germinated melon seeds were planted in each plastic bucket on 15 April 2022, and after they emerged, two plants were selected. To guarantee a single plant inoculation volume of 3 mL, the R. solani mycelium suspension was utilized for root inoculation when melons reached the three-leaf stage. Melons were grown on two vines, removing the hearts of the fourth leaf. The plants began to dangle after the seventh leaf unfolded. The melon plant was pruned with double vines, and the fruit vines started to develop continuously after two to three knots. When the longitudinal diameter of the fruit reached 2–3 cm, three sturdy, uniform fruits were selected from each vine of the melon plant, and the other fruits were discarded. The heart was removed from 20 to 25 leaves on the vines.
The incidence of damping off was examined 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 days after R. solani inoculation of the melons. For each treatment, 50 plants were selected, with 10 plants for each replication, and the control effect and disease index were determined. Fifty plants were labeled on the day of pollination with female flowers from the same node and flowering period. For each treatment, 20 melon plants (4 plants per replication) were selected 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination. In the adult plant stage, 4–5 leaves on the fruit vine were used as the aim source from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. to determine the physiological and biochemical indices. To evaluate the quality indices, 20 fruits (4 fruits per replication) were randomly selected from each treatment 30 days after pollination. To determine the theoretical melon yield, 30,000 melons were planted per hectare, and 20 fruits (4 fruits per replication) were randomly chosen from each treatment.

2.5. Test Indicators and Methods

2.5.1. Determination of Morphological Indicators and Material Accumulation Indicators

Plant height was determined by measuring the distance between the stem base and its growth tip on each seedling with a ruler [25]. The stem diameter was measured 1 cm below the cotyledon using a Vernier caliper [25].
The plants were dried on absorbent paper after being cleaned with clear water. The fresh weight of the plants was calculated for the above- and belowground portions of the plants. The fresh samples were then dried for 15 min at 105 °C before being baked at 70 °C until they reached a constant weight. An electronic scale with a 1/1000 resolution was used to determine the dry weight of the above- and belowground components [26].
The root–shoot ratio was determined using the following formula derived from Gou et al. [27]:
Root–shoot ratio = fresh weight of underground part/fresh weight of aboveground part
Based on Liu et al. [28], the strong seedling index was computed using the following formula:
Strong seedling index = (stem diameter/plant height + belowground dry weight/aboveground dry weight) × dry weight of whole plant

2.5.2. Determination of Antioxidant System Indicators

The MDA content was measured using the thiobarbituric acid technique [29], and the CAT activity was measured using the UV absorption technique [30]. The POD activity was determined using the guaiacol procedure [31], and the SOD activity was determined using the nitrogen blue tetrazole photochemical reduction method [32]. The APX activity was measured using the ascorbic acid method [33], and the PPO activity was measured using the catechol technique [34].

2.5.3. Determination of Disease Resistance Indicators

The severity of melon damping off was assessed following Jorge et al. [35], and the disease index was calculated following Zhang et al. [36], as follows:
Grade 0: Health and growth normal;
Grade 1: Water-soaked lesions form on the base of the stem, making up less than 1/4 of the stem circumference; symptoms emerge;
Grade 2: As the lesion area increases, the stem base becomes smaller; about 1/4 to 1/2 of the stem circumference is diseased;
Grade 3: The lesion area continues to increase, and the stem base disappears; more than 1/2 of the stem circumference is diseased;
Grade 4: The plant dies as a result of the disease around the entire stem base.
Disease index = ∑(plant number of disease grades × grade number)/(total plant number × highest grade number) × 100%
Control effect (%) = (disease index of the control group − disease index of the treated group)/disease index of the control group × 100

2.5.4. Determination of Physiological and Biochemical Indicators

The nitrate reductase (NR) activity was assessed using in vivo spectrophotometry [37], and the nitrate nitrogen content was measured using the phenolic disulfonic acid proced [38]. The chlorophyll content was measured using the ethanol approach [39], and the soluble sugar content was calculated using the anthrone colorimetric technique [40]. The soluble protein content was measured using the Coomassie brilliant blue G-250 staining method [38]. The proline (Pro) content was determined using sulfosalicylic acid in an acid ninhydrin extraction [41].

2.5.5. Determination of Fruit Quality Indicators

An Abel refractometer was used to determine the soluble solids content. The sugar and soluble protein contents were determined following the description given in Section 2.5.4. The vitamin C content was evaluated using UV spectrophotometry [42].

2.5.6. Determination of Yield Indicators

A single melon fruit was weighed using an analytical balance (TB-4002, BeiXiaogan Matguang Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., Xiaogan, China), with an accuracy of 0.01 g.

2.6. Statistical Analysis

The DPS 7.05 program was used for data statistics and variance analysis. Duncan’s distinct challenging range technique was employed to assess multiple comparisons across treatments (p < 0.05). Origin 2019 software was used for mapping.

3. Results and Analysis

3.1. Effect of T. viride on the Growth Indicators of Melon Seedlings

As shown in Figure 1a, the stem diameter and plant height of the melon seedlings first increased and then decreased with the increase in the T. viride concentration. The T3B melon seedlings exhibited the maximum stem diameter and plant height, measuring 0.39 cm and 12.57 cm, respectively. Regarding the stem diameter and plant height of the melon seedlings, there were no significant differences between T2B, T3B, and T4B; however, they were much larger than CK1, CK2, and T1B. Compared to CK1, CK2, and T1B, melon seedlings treated with T3B had an increased stem diameter (14.08, 9.27, and 5.42%, respectively) and plant height (41.87%, 31.90%, and 29.45%, respectively).
The root–shoot ratio and strong seedling index of the melon seedlings increased initially and then decreased with the increase in T. viride treatment concentration, as illustrated in Figure 1b. T3B melon seedlings had the highest root–shoot ratio and strong seedling index (0.12 and 0.05, respectively), which were greater than those in the other treatments. Compared to CK1, CK2, T1B, T2B, and T4B, the root–shoot ratio of melon seedlings following T3B treatment improved by 79.71, 39.33, 30.53, 20.39, and 22.77%, respectively, and the strong seedling index improved by 130.43, 82.76, 60.61, 17.78, and 39.47%, respectively.

3.2. Effect of T. viride on the Antioxidant System of Melon Seedlings

As illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3, the MDA content and CAT, POD, SOD, APX, and PPO activities were measured in the leaves of melon seedlings treated with T. viride at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing.

3.2.1. Effect of T. viride on the MDA Content and CAT Activity in Melon Seedling Leaves

The melon seedlings treated with T. viride exhibited a steadily rising MDA content and CAT activity as the sowing time progressed, as shown in Figure 2a,b. The MDA content in the leaves of T3B melon seedlings was the lowest, and it declined 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing. It then increased when the concentration of T. viride treatment increased. The CAT activity of melon seedlings first increased and subsequently decreased in response to an increase in T. viride concentration; the highest CAT activity was observed in the leaves of the T3B melon seedlings.
The MDA content in the leaves of CK1 melon was considerably greater than that of other treatments at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing (18.35, 26.40, and 35.20 μmol·g−1, respectively), as illustrated in Figure 2a. The MDA content in the leaves of CK2 decreased by 55.52, 56.93, and 60.75% at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing, respectively, compared to CK1. The decreases in T3B were 43.80, 45.89, and 35.66%, respectively, compared to CK1.
As shown in Figure 2b, T3B melon leaves had the highest levels of CAT activity at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing, measuring 45.31, 96.49, and 137.55 U·g−1, respectively. These values were significantly greater than those of the other treatments. At 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing, the CAT activity of the melon leaves treated with T3B increased by 272.56, 241.00, and 189.74%, respectively, compared to CK1 and by 161.15, 132.48, and 109.95%, respectively, compared to CK2.

3.2.2. Effect of T. viride on the POD and SOD Activities in Melon Seedling Leaves

The POD and SOD activities in the leaves of melon seedlings treated with T. viride steadily increased after sowing, as shown in Figure 3a,b. The POD and SOD activities in the leaves of melon seedlings increased 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing. These values then decreased as the concentration of the T. viride treatment increased. The highest POD and SOD activities were found in the leaves of the T3B melon seedlings.
The POD activity of T3B melon leaves was considerably higher than that of other treatments at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing, with values of 56.40, 126.73, and 198.03 U·g−1, respectively, as shown in Figure 3a. At 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing, melon leaves treated with T3B showed increased POD activity compared to CK1 (219.91, 267.04, and 169.61%, respectively) and CK2 (131.84, 165.77, and 101.40%, respectively).
The SOD activity in T3B melon leaves was significantly higher than that of other treatments, as shown in Figure 3b, and peaked at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing (116.33, 298.40, and 345.17 U·g−1, respectively). At 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing, the SOD activity of melon leaves treated with T3B increased compared to CK1 (by 229.38, 274.62, and 175.36%, respectively) and CK2 (104.35, 175.30, and 101.09%, respectively).

3.2.3. Effect of T. viride on the APX and PPO Activities of Melon Seedling Leaves

Both APX and PPO activities in the leaves of melon seedlings treated with T. viride gradually increased after sowing, as shown in Figure 4a,b. The APX and PPO activities of the melon seedlings increased at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing. These activities subsequently decreased as the concentration of T. viride treatment increased. The highest APX and PPO activities were observed in the leaves of the T3B melon seedlings.
As shown in Figure 4a, T3B melon leaves had the highest APX activity at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing (127.93, 162.47, and 267.61 U·g−1, respectively). This activity was significantly greater than that of the other treatments (apart from the T2B treatment at 25 and 35 days after sowing). The APX activity of melon leaves treated with T3B increased at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing compared to CK1 (209.64, 147.43, and 224.20%, respectively) and CK2 (105.15, 85.37, and 114.90%, respectively).
As shown in Figure 4b, T3B melon leaves significantly outperformed the other treatments (apart from T2B treatment at 25 days after sowing) in terms of PPO activity at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing (2.35, 3.43, and 5.19 U·g−1, respectively). Melon leaves treated with T3B showed higher PPO activity at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing compared to CK1 (542.74, 400.73, and 477.39%, respectively) and CK2 (246.02, 187.09, and 163.87%, respectively).

3.3. Effect of T. viride against Melon Damping Off at the Seedling Stage

Table 1 shows the results of the calculation of the disease index and control efficacy conducted 25 days after the melon seedlings were inoculated with R. solani. Compared to CK1, the incidence ratio and disease index significantly decreased under various T. viride treatments.
The incidence ratio of T1B, T2B, T3B, and T4B was decreased by 65.22%, 80.43%, 86.96%, and 76.09% in comparison to CK1. The disease indexes of T1B, T2B, T3B, and T4B were 69.39%, 76.19%, 90.48%, and 74.83% lower, respectively, than that of CK1.
At the seedling stage of melon damping off, T3B demonstrated the best control efficacy (90.48%). T3B exhibited substantially higher control efficacy than T1B, T2B, and T4B, with increases of 30.39, 18.76, and 20.91%, respectively.

3.4. Effect of T. viride on the Physiological and Biochemical Indexes of Melon at the Adult Plant Stages

3.4.1. Effects of T. viride on NR Activity and Nitrate Nitrogen Content in Melon Leaves

The melon leaves treated with T. viride showed a gradual increase in NR activity and nitrate nitrogen content with time after pollination, as shown in Figure 5a,b. The NR activity and nitrate nitrogen content in melon leaves increased at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination but decreased with the increase in the T. viride concentration. The highest levels of these parameters were observed in the leaves of T3B melon.
The NR activity of T3B melon leaves was highest at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination, as shown in Figure 5a. These values were substantially higher than those of other treatments, at 45.77, 56.69, and 62.62 µg·g−1·h−1, respectively. Melon leaves treated with T3B showed increased NR activity at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination compared to CK1 (171.23, 123.93, and 100.40%, respectively) and CK2 (78.93, 74.29, and 66.00%, respectively).
The nitrate nitrogen content of T3B melon leaves was considerably higher than that of other treatments at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination, with values of 3468.22, 4656.37, and 5953.48 µg·mg−1, respectively, as shown in Figure 5b. The nitrate nitrogen content of melon leaves treated with T3B increased by 62.35, 96.53, and 135.17% compared to CK1 and by 38.99, 75.86, and 99.62% compared to CK2 at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination, respectively.

3.4.2. Effects of T. viride on the Chlorophyll and Soluble Sugar Contents in Melon Leaves

The chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents of melon leaves treated with T. viride exhibited a steady increase with time after pollination, as shown in Figure 6a,b. The chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents of melon leaves increased initially at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination but decreased as the T. viride concentration increased. The highest levels of these substances were found in T3B melon leaves.
The chlorophyll content of T3B melon leaves was highest at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination, as shown in Figure 6a, and was significantly higher compared to the other treatments (except T2B), with values of 5.31, 5.65, and 5.94 mg·g−1, respectively. The chlorophyll content of melon leaves treated with T3B increased by 120.13, 86.43, and 68.59% compared to CK1 and by 47.12%, 41.94, and 40.76% compared to CK2 at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination, respectively.
Figure 6b shows that T3B melon leaves exhibited the highest soluble sugar content at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination, with values of 12.98, 16.37, and 17.36 mg·g−1, respectively. This content was significantly greater than that of the other treatments, with the exception of the T2B treatment at 20 and 30 days. The soluble sugar content of melon leaves treated with T3B increased at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination compared to CK1 (136.40, 126.91, and 93.65%, respectively) and CK2 (70.92, 74.88, and 47.67%, respectively).

3.4.3. Effects of T. viride on the Soluble Protein and Proline Contents in Melon Leaves

In melon leaves treated with T. viride, the soluble protein and Pro contents gradually increased with pollination time, as shown in Figure 7a,b. The highest soluble protein and Pro contents were found in the leaves of T3B melon, showing an increase at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination. However, these levels decreased with an increase in the concentration of the T. viride treatment.
As shown in Figure 7a, T3B melon leaves had the highest soluble protein content at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination (66.13, 73.32, and 84.22 µg·g−1, respectively). This content was significantly greater than that of the other treatments, with the exception of the T2B treatment at 10 and 30 days. The soluble protein content of melon leaves treated with T3B increased by 196.31, 154.45, and 158.13% compared to CK1 and by 109.82, 84.91, and 94.74% compared to CK2 at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination, respectively.
At 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination, the Pro content in T3B melon leaves was considerably higher than that of the other treatments (except T2B treatment at 20 days after pollination) at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination, with values of 29.35, 32.67, and 65.80 µg·g−1, respectively, as shown in Figure 7b. The Pro content in melon leaves treated with T3B increased by 252.50, 188.44, and 238.67% compared to CK1 and by 120.43, 51.51, and 99.16% compared to CK2 at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination, respectively.

3.5. Control Effects of T. viride against Melon Damping Off at the Adult Plant Stage

Table 2 shows the disease index and control efficacy 25 days after inoculation with R. solani in melon plants. Under various different T. viride treatments, the incidence ratio and disease index were significantly reduced compared to CK1. T1B, T2B, T3B, and T4B had lower incidence ratios (33.33, 61.90, 64.29, and 47.62%, respectively) and disease indices (40.23, 68.39, 72.99, and 55.75%, respectively) than CK1. T3B had the highest control efficacy (72.9%) for melon damping off at the adult plant stages. The control efficacy of T2B was 68.39%, and there were no significant differences between T3B and T2B. The control efficacy of T3B was significantly higher than that of T1B and T4B, with increases of 81.43 and 30.92%, respectively. The control efficacy of T2B was significantly higher than that of T1B and T4B, showing increases of 70.00 and 22.67%, respectively.

3.6. Effect of T. viride on the Quality and Yield of Melon

As shown in Table 3, treatment with T. viride greatly increased the soluble solids, soluble sugar, soluble protein, vitamin C contents, and melon yield. The soluble solids, soluble protein, soluble sugar, vitamin C contents, and melon yield increased and then decreased with the increase in the concentration of the T. viride treatment. The highest soluble solids, soluble sugar, soluble protein, vitamin C contents, and single fruit weight were observed in melon fruit treated with T3B (11.12%, 58.36 mg·g−1, 1121.65 µg·g−1, 236.19 mg·100 g−1, and 325.26 g, respectively). Compared to CK1, T3B treatment increased the soluble solids, soluble sugar, soluble protein, and vitamin C contents of melon fruit by 50.07, 126.82, 60.62, and 70.79%, respectively. When the melon fruit was treated with T3B, the soluble solids, soluble sugar, soluble protein, and vitamin C contents increased by 34.79, 68.57, 43.14, and 51.16%, respectively, compared to CK2. T3B and T2B did not significantly differ in terms of yield or single fruit weight. T2B and T3B increased the yield by 56.17, 36.03, 19.74, and 15.79% and the single fruit weight by 61.45, 40.63, 23.79, and 19.70% compared to CK1, CK2, T1B, and T4B, respectively.

4. Discussion

4.1. Effects of T. viride on the Growth of Melon Seedlings

Trichoderma fungi are found in almost every kind of soil and can have a mutually beneficial connection with plants. In addition to their direct role in biological control, they function as plant growth promoters through an indirect biological control mechanism [43]. In hydroponic studies by Athakorn and Warin, T. asperellum NST-009 decreased the Cercospora leaf spot disease index in lettuce by 67.51% compared to inoculated controls [44]. The growth of ‘Green Oak’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was greatly accelerated in terms of plant height (8.62%), canopy width (16.67%), leaf number (18.39%), aboveground fresh weight (25.71%), and root fresh weight (39.26%). Abdelmoaty et al. [45] demonstrated that, compared to the control, the plant height, branch count, leaf height, ground area, and absolute growth rate of T. harzianum treated with 50 g of NPK (T2) increased by 50.12, 107.84, 17.91, 116.93, and 56.02%, respectively. Heflish et al. [46] demonstrated that T3 (tomato plants inoculated with T. asperelloides Ta41) had the greatest promotion effect on tomato plant growth in greenhouse environments. Significant increases were observed in plant height (39.8 cm), root length (18.4 cm), aboveground fresh weight (16.4 g), aboveground dry weight (3.5 g), root fresh weight (5.8 g), and root dry weight (2.6 g). Trichoderma viride treatments promoted melon seedling growth. These outcomes are similar to those observed by Vinale et al. [47] for T. koningii and T. harzianum, which demonstrated the ability of phytosomatoid auxin from these species to stimulate the growth of tomato and rape seedlings. Trichoderma encourages plant growth and regulates the physiological and biochemical metabolism of plants, thereby impacting the growth conditions of plants [48].

4.2. Effect of T. viride on the Antioxidant System of Melon

During their interaction, Trichoderma causes plants to release protective enzymes and other secondary metabolites that alter physiological substances, such as MDA, affect plant systemic resistance, and inhibit pathogen growth [49]. In a pot experiment, Mohamed and Sahar [50] applied fungal agents as a soil inoculant to tomato plants and demonstrated that, compared to infected plants (T2), the incidence (34, 35, and 26%) and severity (31, 31, and 16%) were reduced in all inoculated plants (T3, T4, and T5, respectively). There were notable decreases in the formation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), membrane ion leakage, and lipid peroxidation (MDA), indicating cell stress. Furthermore, the upregulation of plant defense enzymes, such as POD, PPO, SOD, and CAT, was consistent with the enhancements in physiological traits in tomato, reaching 3.4, 1.3, 1.2, and 1.2 times, respectively, at 24 h after inoculation. Lian et al. [51] evaluated the effects of T. harzianum on the physiological and biochemical characteristics and efficiency of cucumber wilt control. At 30 days after sowing, the SOD, APX, CAT, and POD activities in cucumber seedlings treated with T3 treatment (104 CFU/g Fusarium oxysporum powder and 106 CFU/g T. harzianum conidia) increased by 138.86, 129.66, 120.64, and 138.01%, respectively, while the MDA content decreased by 47.68%. The present study demonstrated that T. viride enhanced the CAT, POD, SOD, APX, and PPO activities in melon seedling leaves and reduced the MDA content. These outcomes are in line with the previously mentioned research findings. This could be the result of T. viride interacting with melon and eliminating reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants, which reduced the damage caused by membrane lipid peroxidation to the cell membrane under disease stress [52]. Thus, protective enzymes, such as CAT, POD, SOD, and APX, are produced in melon plants after pathogen infection.

4.3. Effect of T. viride on Physiological and Biochemical Indexes, Yield, and Quality of Melon

Trichoderma can enhance the physiological traits, boost agricultural output and quality, and support the physiological and biochemical metabolism of plants [48]. Song et al. [53] found that Melanodon sinensis had higher carotenoid and chlorophyll contents after treatment with T. viride. Wu et al. [54] showed that Coptis chinensis leaves treated with four strains of Trichoderma had higher soluble sugar, soluble protein, and chlorophyll contents. According to Zhang et al. [10], T. harzianum boosts the soluble sugar, soluble protein, and chlorophyll contents and root activity in cucumber leaves; it can also help cucumbers grow under salt stress. The present study demonstrated that the leaves of adult melons treated with T. viride had higher soluble sugar, soluble protein, chlorophyll, and Pro contents and that T3B had the greatest effect. This is due to the fact that osmoregulatory compounds, such as Pro, soluble sugar, and soluble protein, can efficiently preserve the osmotic balance of plant somatic cells and enhance plant resilience to external stimuli [55].
The primary indicator of crop nitrogen absorption and usage is the nitrate nitrogen content of plant leaves, and NR activity directly influences plant nitrogen consumption and some aspects of crop quality and yield [56]. Melon leaves at the adult stage treated with T. viride had a higher nitrate nitrogen content and NR activity. This is due to a positive correlation between changes in nitrate nitrogen and NR activity. Nitrogen assimilation and reduction in plants are facilitated by an increase in NR activity in response to an increase in the nitrate nitrogen content [57]. This process is favorable for the development of melon yield and quality. According to Anirudh et al. [58], who evaluated the effects of T. asperelloides TA41 on strawberry yield and quality, T8 (TA41–80 mL/15 L) and T7 (TA41–70 mL/15 L) exhibited the highest values across all metrics, making them the most effective treatments. A comparison of the fruit length (55.46 mm), fruit breadth (38.89 mm), fresh weight (40.36 g), fruit number (16.92), fruit yield (682.91 g), vitamin C content (52.76 mg/100 g), and acidity (1.96%) with the control group (T0) revealed significant differences. According to Hao et al. [59], four Trichoderma species (T. asperellum GDSF1009, T. asperellum Z4-1, T. harzianum 10569, and T. asperellum 10264) demonstrated better antagonistic activity and cucumber growth compared to single strain cultures, increasing cucumber plant height by 22.99–42.06%, stem diameter by 13.65–18.83%, and cucumber yield.
This investigation demonstrated that T. viride treatment greatly enhanced the yield and quality attributes of melon fruit and that applying T. viride compounds in the right quantities increased nutrient absorption and enhanced fruit quality and yield. Further investigation is necessary, but it is hypothesized that the T. viride strains used in this study may contain biological regulatory substances, such as gibberellin, a growth hormone that can raise the amount of physiological and biochemical substances in melon and thereby enhance the physiological metabolism level of plants [60].

4.4. Control Effects of T. viride against Melon Damping Off

Numerous studies have reported the application of Trichoderma biocontrol in disease management. When Huang et al. [61] applied the SQR-T37 strain of T. harzianum to cucumber seedlings, the control effect was 45%; however, when bio-organic fertilizer was added, the control effect increased to 81.82%. Zhang et al. [62] found that 67.44% of watermelon blossom wilt was prevented when T. asperellum M45a granules were applied to the soil after five years of cultivation. When seven Trichoderma strains were added to soybean seeds, as reported by Yusnawan et al. [63], the incidence of soybean blight decreased to 22–34% compared to 46% in the control group. This study showed that T. viride had a specific control impact on melon damping off, with varying control effects observed at various application doses. During the seedling and adult plant stages, T3B exhibited the highest control effects (90.48 and 72.99%, respectively). To obtain an optimal control effect in practical applications, the concentration should be investigated in various crops and soil settings [64].

5. Conclusions

Overall, our findings demonstrated that T. viride Tv286 enhanced the root–shoot ratio, the strong seedling index, the physiological and biochemical indexes of leaves at the adult stage, and the antioxidant system of seedlings. It also increased melon development, resulting in higher quality and yield. Trichoderma viride Tv286 increased melon’s resistance to damping off in trials with seedlings and adult potted plants. The findings of this study should be validated in further melon production research with T. viride.

Author Contributions

Data curation, J.L.; Formal analysis, H.L.; Investigation, J.D. and J.L.; Methodology, J.D.; Resources, M.L.; Software, J.D. and J.L.; Writing—original draft, J.D. and G.M.; Writing—review and editing, G.M., H.L. and M.L. supervision, H.L.; project administration, G.M.; funding acquisition, M.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the National Key Research and Development Plan (No. 2019YFD1002000).

Data Availability Statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the growth indicators of melon seedlings. CK1, Rhizoctonia solani mycelium suspension only; CK2, PD solution only; T1B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 104 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia; T2B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 105 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia; T3B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 106 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia; T4B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 107 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia. The effects of Trichoderma viride on stem diameter and plant height of melon seedlings are shown in (a) while the effects on root-shoot ratio and seedling strength index of melon seedlings are shown in (b). Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
Figure 1. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the growth indicators of melon seedlings. CK1, Rhizoctonia solani mycelium suspension only; CK2, PD solution only; T1B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 104 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia; T2B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 105 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia; T3B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 106 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia; T4B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 107 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia. The effects of Trichoderma viride on stem diameter and plant height of melon seedlings are shown in (a) while the effects on root-shoot ratio and seedling strength index of melon seedlings are shown in (b). Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
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Figure 2. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the MDA content and CAT activity in melon seedling leaves. The effects of Trichoderma viride on the MDA content and CAT activity of melon seedlings are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
Figure 2. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the MDA content and CAT activity in melon seedling leaves. The effects of Trichoderma viride on the MDA content and CAT activity of melon seedlings are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
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Figure 3. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the POD and SOD activities in melon seedling leaves.The effects of Trichoderma viride on the POD and SOD activities of melon seedlings are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
Figure 3. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the POD and SOD activities in melon seedling leaves.The effects of Trichoderma viride on the POD and SOD activities of melon seedlings are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
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Figure 4. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the APX and PPO activities of melon seedling leaves. The effects of Trichoderma viride on the APX and PPO activities of melon seedlings are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
Figure 4. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the APX and PPO activities of melon seedling leaves. The effects of Trichoderma viride on the APX and PPO activities of melon seedlings are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
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Figure 5. Effect of Trichoderma viride on NR activity and nitrate nitrogen content in melon leaves at the adult plant stage. The effects of Trichoderma viride on NR activity and nitrate nitrogen content in melon leaves at the adult plant stage are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
Figure 5. Effect of Trichoderma viride on NR activity and nitrate nitrogen content in melon leaves at the adult plant stage. The effects of Trichoderma viride on NR activity and nitrate nitrogen content in melon leaves at the adult plant stage are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
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Figure 6. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents of melon leaves at the adult plant stage. The effects of Trichoderma viride on the chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents of melon leaves at the adult plant stage are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
Figure 6. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents of melon leaves at the adult plant stage. The effects of Trichoderma viride on the chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents of melon leaves at the adult plant stage are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
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Figure 7. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the soluble protein and proline contents in melon leaves at the adult plant stage. The effects of Trichoderma viride on the soluble protein and proline contents in melon leaves at the adult plant stage are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
Figure 7. Effect of Trichoderma viride on the soluble protein and proline contents in melon leaves at the adult plant stage. The effects of Trichoderma viride on the soluble protein and proline contents in melon leaves at the adult plant stage are shown in (a,b), respectively. Error bars show the SD, and different lowercase characters denote significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
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Table 1. Control effects of Trichoderma viride against melon damping off at the seedling stage.
Table 1. Control effects of Trichoderma viride against melon damping off at the seedling stage.
TreatmentIncidence RatioDisease IndexControl Efficacy
CK192.00 ± 0.32 a73.50 ± 4.61 a—
CK20——
T1B32.00 ± 1.27 b22.50 ± 0.96 b69.39 ± 2.32 c
T2B18.00 ± 0.74 c17.50 ± 0.39 c76.19 ± 2.47 b
T3B12.00 ± 0.47 d7.00 ± 0.97 d90.48 ± 3.12 a
T4B22.00 ± 0.86 c18.50 ± 0.45 c74.83 ± 4.53 b
CK1, Rhizoctonia solani mycelium suspension only; CK2, PD solution only; T1B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 104 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia; T2B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 105 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia; T3B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 106 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia; T4B, R. solani mycelium suspension and 107 CFU·g−1 of T. viride conidia. The values show the mean ± SD, and different lowercase letters in the same column indicate significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
Table 2. Control effects of Trichoderma viride against melon damping off at the adult plant stage.
Table 2. Control effects of Trichoderma viride against melon damping off at the adult plant stage.
TreatmentIncidence RatioDisease IndexControl Efficacy
CK184.00 ± 6.98 a87.00 ± 3.87 a—
CK20——
T1B56.00 ± 4.62 b52.00 ± 1.32 b 40.23 ± 1.32 c
T2B32.00 ± 3.11 d27.50 ± 0.98 d68.39 ± 3.22 a
T3B30.00 ± 1.87 d23.50 ± 0.55 d72.99 ± 2.16 a
T4B44.00 ± 3.62 c38.50 ± 0.63 c 55.75 ± 4.36 b
The values show the mean ± SD, and different lowercase letters in the same column indicate significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
Table 3. Effect of Trichoderma viride on melon quality and yield.
Table 3. Effect of Trichoderma viride on melon quality and yield.
TreatmentSoluble Solids Content (%) Soluble Sugar Content (mg·g−1) Soluble Protein Content
(µg·g−1) 		Vitamin C Content (mg·100 g−1) Single Fruit Weight (g) Yield
(kg·hm−2)
CK17.41 ± 0.09 e25.73 ± 1.02 e698.32 ± 32.47 e138.29 ± 7.36 e201.46 ± 8.32 d36,262.80 ± 785.32 d
CK28.25 ± 0.11 d34.62 ± 1.85 d783.62 ± 41.81 d156.25 ± 8.12 d231.28 ± 7.15 c41,630.40 ± 325.84 c
T1B9.45 ± 0.16 c41.58 ± 2.31 c893.58 ± 36.49 c186.27 ± 5.17 c262.76 ± 6.37 b47,296.80 ± 562.29 b
T2B10.19 ± 0.32 b51.36 ± 2.67 b965.36 ± 52.61 b211.24 ± 10.29 b314.62 ± 5.69 a56,631.60 ± 314.25 a
T3B11.12 ± 0.62 a58.36 ± 3.21 a1121.65 ± 89.37 a236.19 ± 8.62 a325.26 ± 10.32 a58,546.80 ± 168.29 a
T4B9.71 ± 0.24 c43.23 ± 2.19 c913.27 ± 87.92 c195.36 ± 13.24 c271.72 ± 16.04 b48,909.60 ± 356.84 b
The values show the mean ± SD, and different lowercase letters in the same column indicate significant differences at the 5% (p < 0.05) level.
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Dou, J.; Liu, J.; Ma, G.; Lian, H.; Li, M. The Physiological Effect of Trichoderma viride on Melon Yield and Its Ability to Suppress Rhizoctonia solani. Agronomy 2024, 14, 2318. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102318

AMA Style

Dou J, Liu J, Ma G, Lian H, Li M. The Physiological Effect of Trichoderma viride on Melon Yield and Its Ability to Suppress Rhizoctonia solani. Agronomy. 2024; 14(10):2318. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102318

Chicago/Turabian Style

Dou, Jingwei, Jingyi Liu, Guangshu Ma, Hua Lian, and Mei Li. 2024. "The Physiological Effect of Trichoderma viride on Melon Yield and Its Ability to Suppress Rhizoctonia solani" Agronomy 14, no. 10: 2318. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102318

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