Application of Trichoderma spp. Combined with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Improves the Physiochemical Response of Arabidopsis thaliana Under Drought

Bio-control strategies and the application of eco-friendly nanoparticles to enhance drought tolerance in plants have attained great interest in arid and semi-arid water resource management. This study aims to determine the effects of Trichoderma koningiopsis and the combination of T. koningiopsis and iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO-NPs) on the biochemical, physiological, and anatomical responses of Arabidopsis thaliana under drought stress. Compared with the untreated control , T. koningiopsis and its co-inoculation with FeO-NPs promoted fresh biomass and root length. Moreover, exposure to both T. koningiopsis and FeO-NPs significantly decreased electrolytic leakage, indicating a decrease in reactive oxygen species accumulation and lipid peroxidation levels in plants. In the plants, the activity of superoxide dismutase, antioxidant enzymes, and catalase was significantly increased with T. koningiopsis and FeO-NP application. The findings show that T. koningiopsis and FeO-NPs can considerably reduce the water requirement of A. thaliana and enhance their drought tolerance ability, particularly in drought-prone areas.