Can "Biochar + Trichoderma" Help Chickpeas Resist Diseases and Increase Yield?
Biochar is a porous carbon material formed by the high-temperature pyrolysis of biomass under oxygen-deficient conditions. Its abundant pores provide a "shelter" for microorganisms, and its high carbon content supplies energy for beneficial bacteria. As a widely used biocontrol fungus, Trichoderma can inhibit pathogens by competing for nutrients and secreting antimicrobial substances, while also promoting plant root development. Can biochar serve as a high-quality carrier for Trichoderma to inhibit Sclerotinia sclerotiorum while promoting crop growth? A study by Vipul Kumar from Lovely Professional University (India), and Rachid Lahlali from the National School of Agriculture of Meknes (Morocco) and their colleagues, provides an answer to this question.