Use of t. constrictum t-51 in promoting flowering, fruit set and vegetative growth in plants

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of biological agents and plant breeding technology, specifically relating to the application of *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 in promoting flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth in plants. The *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 described in this invention has the preservation number CCTCCNO: M2015729. Applying a suspension containing *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 to the roots of plant seedlings can advance the flowering time and increase the number of flowers; it can also improve the number and rate of fruit set; and it can promote vegetative growth, especially increasing plant height, number of stem nodes, and number of leaves, thereby accelerating the plant breeding process and shortening the breeding cycle. This invention has very high application value in plant breeding.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of biological agents and plant breeding technology, specifically involving the application of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 in promoting flowering, fruit setting and vegetative growth of plants. Background Technology

[0002] Trichoderma spp. belongs to the subphylum Deuteromycetes, class Hyphomycetes, order Trichoderma, family Trichodermacetes. The genus Trichoderma is very diverse, with great differences between and within species. Some strains can effectively prevent and control plant diseases or have good growth-promoting effects on plants. Therefore, Trichoderma is widely regarded as a plant probiotic.

[0003] For crop breeding, flowering time and seed maturity time directly affect the successful planting of the next season. Promoting earlier flowering helps breeders shorten the planting cycle and accelerate the breeding process. Currently, the flowering and development time of watermelons is mainly related to varietal characteristics. However, the early maturity of watermelon varieties is not always consistent with other desirable traits such as quality and disease resistance. Many mid-to-late maturing varieties with excellent other traits are still widely cultivated in production. Watermelons require artificial pollination in production. Early flowering can avoid the peak pollination period, saving manpower and preventing delays in fruit set due to labor shortages during the pollination period in watermelon production areas. The timing of flowering and pollination directly affects the ripening and market availability of watermelons. Early flowering allows watermelons to be marketed earlier, seizing a market advantage and having significant economic implications.

[0004] Plant flowering time is mainly regulated by photoperiod, low temperature, and plant hormones such as gibberellins. In plant production, including crops, flowers, and fruits, gibberellins are mainly used to promote flowering. However, there are few reports on the use of microorganisms to promote early flowering and fruit setting in plants. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide the application of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 in promoting flowering, fruit setting and vegetative growth of plants. Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 can advance the flowering time of plants and increase the number of flowers, and can promote fruit setting and vegetative growth of plants.

[0006] This invention provides the application of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 in promoting one or more of the flowering, fruit setting and vegetative growth of plants, wherein the preservation number of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 is CCTCCNO: M 2015729.

[0007] Preferably, promoting plant flowering includes promoting earlier flowering and / or increasing the number of plant flowers.

[0008] Preferably, the *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 is used in the form of a suspension formulation, wherein the effective concentration of *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 in the suspension formulation is 10. 6 ~10 8 spores / mL.

[0009] This invention also provides a Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation, wherein the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation comprises the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 described in the above technical solution; the effective concentration of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 in the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation is 10. 6 ~10 8 spores / mL.

[0010] The present invention also provides a method for preparing the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation described in the above technical solution, comprising the following steps:

[0011] Trichoderma truncatum T-51 was inoculated onto PDA medium for activation culture to obtain Trichoderma truncatum T-51 colonies;

[0012] The mycelia of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 colony were inoculated onto PDA medium for spore culture to obtain colonies containing conidia of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51.

[0013] Add water to the colony containing Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 conidia, scrape and wash the conidia off the surface of the colony, mix well, and obtain the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation.

[0014] This invention provides a method for promoting one or more of flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth in plants, wherein the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation described in the above technical solution is used for root irrigation treatment of plant seedlings.

[0015] Preferably, the plant includes one or more plants from the Cucurbitaceae, Leguminosae, and Brassicaceae families.

[0016] Preferably, when the plant is a Cucurbitaceae plant, the plant seedlings include seedlings at the two-leaf-one-heart stage, seedlings at the cotyledon stage, or seedlings at the one-leaf-one-heart stage; the dosage of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation is 2.5-10 mL / plant.

[0017] Preferably, when the plant is a legume, the plant seedling includes cotyledon stage seedlings or one-node stage seedlings; the dosage of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation is 2.5-10 mL / plant.

[0018] Preferably, when the plant is a cruciferous plant, the plant seedling is a seedling at the four-leaf to eight-leaf stage; the dosage of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation is 5 to 15 mL / plant.

[0019] Beneficial effects:

[0020] This invention provides the application of *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 in promoting flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth in plants, wherein the preservation number of *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 is CCTCC NO: M 2015729. Root irrigation treatment of plant seedlings with a suspension preparation containing *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 can advance the flowering time and increase the number of flowers; it can also improve the number and rate of fruit setting; and it can promote vegetative growth, especially increasing plant height, number of stem nodes, and number of leaves, thereby accelerating the plant breeding process and shortening the breeding cycle, demonstrating high application value for plant breeding.

[0021] Biological Preservation Information:

[0022] The Trichoderma truncatum T-51 described in this invention was deposited at the China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) on December 8, 2015, with accession number CCTCC NO: M 2015729, located at Wuhan University, Wuchang District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below.

[0024] Figure 1 The total number of flowers on the watermelon seedlings in Examples 2-3 and Comparative Examples 1-2 are statistical results.

[0025] Figure 2 The results show the statistical results of the number of female flowers on watermelon seedlings in Examples 2-3 and Comparative Examples 1-2;

[0026] Figure 3 The statistical results of watermelon seedling height in Examples 2-3 and Comparative Examples 1-2 are shown.

[0027] Figure 4 The results show the statistical results of the number of stem nodes of watermelon seedlings in Examples 2-3 and Comparative Examples 1-2;

[0028] Figure 5 Phenotypic diagrams of watermelon plant growth and flowering in Example 2 and Comparative Example 1;

[0029] Figure 6 The statistical results of soybean plant height in Example 7 and Comparative Example 6;

[0030] Figure 7 The results show the leaf count of soybean plants in Example 7 and Comparative Example 6.

[0031] Figure 8 Phenotypic diagrams of soybean plant growth in Example 7 and Comparative Example 6;

[0032] Figure 9 The statistical results of flowering time of soybean plants in Example 7 and Comparative Example 6;

[0033] Figure 10 The figures show the flowering phenotypes of soybean plants in Example 7 and Comparative Example 6.

[0034] Figure 11 The figures show the flowering and growth phenotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana plants in Example 8 and Comparative Example 7. Detailed Implementation

[0035] This invention provides the application of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 in promoting flowering, fruit setting and vegetative growth of plants. The preservation number of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 is CCTCC NO: M 2015729.

[0036] In this invention, promoting plant flowering preferably includes promoting earlier flowering and / or increasing the number of flowers, and more preferably promoting earlier flowering and increasing the number of flowers. Promoting plant fruit setting preferably includes increasing the number of fruits and the fruit setting rate. Promoting plant vegetative growth preferably includes increasing one or more of the following: plant height, stem height, number of stem nodes, number of leaves, and fresh weight.

[0037] The *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 described in this invention is preferably used in the form of a *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 suspension formulation. The effective concentration of *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 in the *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 suspension formulation of this invention is preferably 10. 6 ~10 8 10 spores / mL, more preferably 10 7 spores / mL.

[0038] The present invention also provides a method for preparing the Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension formulation, comprising the following steps:

[0039] Trichoderma truncatum T-51 was inoculated onto PDA medium for activation culture to obtain Trichoderma truncatum T-51 colonies;

[0040] The mycelia of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 colony were inoculated onto PDA medium for spore culture to obtain colonies containing conidia of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51.

[0041] Add water to the colony containing Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 conidia, scrape and wash the conidia off the surface of the colony, mix well, and obtain the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation.

[0042] In this invention, *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 is preferably inoculated onto PDA medium for activation culture to obtain *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 colonies. The activation culture temperature is preferably 18–28°C, more preferably 20°C; the culture time is preferably 2–4 days, more preferably 2 days.

[0043] After obtaining the *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 colony, the present invention preferably inoculates the hyphae at the edge of the *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 colony onto PDA medium for spore culture to obtain colonies containing *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 conidia. The preferred temperature for spore culture in the present invention is 18–28°C, more preferably 20°C; the preferred daily light duration is 16–24 h, more preferably 24 h; and the preferred culture time is 7–15 days, more preferably 10 days. The present invention does not have a particular limitation on the inoculation amount of the hyphae; conventional inoculation amounts in the art are sufficient.

[0044] After obtaining the colony containing *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 conidia, the present invention preferably adds water to the colony containing *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 conidia, scrapes off the conidia from the surface of the scraped colony, mixes well, and obtains the *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 suspension formulation. The effective concentration of *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 conidia in the *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 suspension formulation of the present invention is preferably 10. 6 ~10 8 10 spores / mL, more preferably 10 7 1 spore / mL. The water used in this invention is preferably sterile water. This invention does not specifically limit the specific steps and methods of the scraping process; conventional steps and methods in the art can be used.

[0045] This invention also provides a Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation, wherein the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation comprises the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 described in the above technical solution; the effective concentration of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 in the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation is 10. 6 ~10 8 spores / mL.

[0046] The preferred effective concentration of *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 in the suspension formulation of this invention is 1 × 10⁻⁶. 7 spores / mL. The preparation method of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation described in this invention is the same as above and will not be repeated here.

[0047] This invention provides a method for promoting one or more of the following in plants: flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth. The method involves drenching plant seedlings with the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation described in the above technical solution. Preferably, the method promotes flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth in plants.

[0048] In this invention, the plants preferably include one or more of the following: Cucurbitaceae, Leguminosae, and Brassicaceae; more preferably, Cucurbitaceae, Leguminosae, and Brassicaceae. The Cucurbitaceae plants preferably include watermelon, cantaloupe, or cucumber; more preferably, watermelon. This invention does not specifically limit the variety of watermelon; any watermelon variety is acceptable. In the embodiments of this invention, the watermelon varieties used are Shenkang 988, Zaojia 8424, Shengnuhong No. 2, Shuangse Bingchun, or Shenmi No. 1. The Leguminosae plants preferred in this invention are soybeans. This invention does not specifically limit the variety of soybeans; any soybean or vegetable soybean variety is acceptable. In the embodiments of this invention, the soybean variety used is Essex. The Brassicaceae plants preferably include Arabidopsis thaliana, rapeseed, or Chinese cabbage; more preferably, Arabidopsis thaliana. This invention does not specifically limit the variety of Arabidopsis thaliana; any Arabidopsis thaliana variety is acceptable. In the embodiments of this invention, the Arabidopsis thaliana variety used is wild-type Col-0.

[0049] In this invention, when the plant is a Cucurbitaceae plant, the seedlings preferably include seedlings at the two-leaf-one-heart stage, cotyledon stage, or one-leaf-one-heart stage, more preferably seedlings at the two-leaf-one-heart stage. The dosage of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation of this invention is preferably 2.5–10 mL / plant, more preferably 5 mL / plant.

[0050] In this invention, when the plant is a legume, the seedlings preferably include cotyledonary seedlings or one-node seedlings, more preferably cotyledonary seedlings. The dosage of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation of this invention is preferably 2.5–10 mL / plant, more preferably 5 mL / plant.

[0051] In this invention, when the plant is a cruciferous plant, the seedling is preferably a seedling at the four- to eight-leaf stage. The dosage of the *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 suspension preparation of this invention is preferably 5–15 mL / plant, more preferably 10 mL / plant.

[0052] In the method for promoting plant flowering described in this invention, it is preferable to further include the cultivation of plant seedlings and the management of seedlings after root irrigation treatment. This invention does not impose any special limitations on the conditions for cultivating plant seedlings and the conditions for seedling management; conventional cultivation conditions and seedling management conditions in the art can be used.

[0053] To further illustrate the present invention, the technical solutions provided by the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, but these should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0054] Example 1

[0055] A method for preparing a Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation, comprising the following steps:

[0056] 1) Inoculate Trichoderma truncatum T-51 strain onto PDA medium and culture at 20°C under light for 2 days to obtain Trichoderma truncatum T-51 strain colonies;

[0057] 2) Inoculate the edge hyphae of the Trichoderma truncatum T-51 strain obtained in step 1) onto a PDA culture dish and culture at 20°C under light for 7-10 days.

[0058] 3) Add sterile water to the culture dish in step 2), scrape off the conidia on the surface of the colony, mix well, and you will get the Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension preparation.

[0059] 4) The concentration of the Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension was determined using a hemocytometer, diluted to 1×10⁻⁶ with sterile water. 7 spores / mL.

[0060] Example 2

[0061] A method to promote flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth of watermelons (indoor pot experiment) is as follows:

[0062] The experiment used the watermelon variety “Shenkang 988”, with 10 biological replicates and 2 replicates. The watermelon seeds were planted in an artificial climate chamber with growth conditions of 23℃, 16h light, and 60% relative humidity.

[0063] When watermelon seedlings are at the two-leaf-one-heart stage, the *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 suspension prepared in Example 1 is used for root irrigation. The amount of *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 suspension prepared is 5 mL, which means the inoculum size of *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 is 5 × 10⁻⁶. 7 One spore per plant, and the watermelon seedlings after root irrigation are further cultured in an artificial climate chamber.

[0064] Comparative Example 1

[0065] Repeat the steps in Example 2, except that water is used instead of Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension preparation for root irrigation treatment of watermelon seedlings.

[0066] Example 3

[0067] A method to promote flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth of watermelons, with the following steps:

[0068] Repeat the steps in Example 2, except that the watermelon variety used is "Zaojia 8424".

[0069] Comparative Example 2

[0070] Repeat the steps in Example 3, except that water is used instead of Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension preparation for root irrigation treatment of watermelon seedlings.

[0071] Test Example 1

[0072] The timing of the first female flower blooming in watermelon seedlings in Examples 2-3 and Comparative Examples 1-2 was statistically analyzed. It was found that the first female flower appeared on the 26th day after root irrigation in Comparative Examples 1 and 2; while the first female flower appeared on the 20th day after root irrigation in Examples 2 and 3.

[0073] On the 25th day after root irrigation, the average number of flowers, average plant height, and average number of stem nodes of watermelon seedlings in Examples 2-3 and Comparative Examples 1-2 were statistically analyzed. The number of flowers included the number of female flowers and the total number of flowers. The results are as follows: Figures 1-4 As shown, where Figures 1-4 In the middle, T-51 represents the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation; in the horizontal axis, CK in column Shenkang 988 represents Comparative Example 1, and T-51 represents Example 2; in column Zaojia 8424, CK represents Comparative Example 2, and T-51 represents Example 3. Figure 5 Phenotypic diagrams of watermelon plant growth and flowering in Example 2 and Comparative Example 1.

[0074] Depend on Figures 1-2 It can be concluded that on the 25th day of root irrigation treatment, the average total number of flowers in Comparative Example 1, Example 2, Comparative Example 2 and Example 3 were 0, 6, 0.3 and 6.3, respectively; no female flowers appeared in Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2, while the average number of female flowers in Example 2 and Example 3 was 1.5.

[0075] Depend on Figures 3-4 It can be concluded that on the 25th day after the root irrigation treatment, the average plant height in Comparative Example 1, Example 2, Comparative Example 2 and Example 3 were 37.4, 44.6, 35.2 and 43.0 cm, respectively, and the average number of stem nodes in Comparative Example 1, Example 2, Comparative Example 2 and Example 3 were 8.4, 12.8, 8.3 and 12.2, respectively.

[0076] Depend on Figure 5 It can be seen that, compared with Comparative Example 1, the watermelon plants in Example 2 have more flowers and grow more vigorously.

[0077] It is evident that, compared to water, the Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension preparation obtained by this invention can cause watermelon seedlings to flower earlier, increase the number of flowers, and simultaneously improve the plant height and increase the number of stem nodes to promote growth.

[0078] Example 4

[0079] A method for promoting flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth of watermelons (field trial) includes the following steps:

[0080] The watermelon variety used in the experiment was "Saint Nü Hong No. 2"; the experiment was conducted in Shanghai.

[0081] Sowing was carried out on August 2, 2021, and the seedlings were transplanted into a greenhouse one week later. The greenhouse was a standard 8-meter greenhouse. On the day of transplanting, the watermelon seedlings were first treated with a root drenching of the *Trichoderma tumefaciens* strain T-51 prepared in Example 1, with an inoculum size of 5 × 10⁶. 7 One spore per plant, that is, 5 mL per plant for root irrigation, and then transplanting. Watermelons are grown using conventional ground-creeping cultivation with single-vine pruning.

[0082] Comparative Example 3

[0083] Repeat the steps in Example 4, except that water is used instead of Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension preparation for root irrigation treatment of watermelon seedlings.

[0084] Test Example 2

[0085] During the flowering period, an investigation was conducted on the watermelon seedlings in Example 4 and Comparative Example 3. It was found that compared with Comparative Example 3, the pollination time in Example 4 was 3 days earlier in the early stage of fruit setting (pollination period), and the number of initial fruits and the fruit setting rate were also significantly improved, as shown in Table 1.

[0086] Table 1. Statistical results of flowering period and fruit set of watermelon seedlings in Example 4 and Comparative Example 3.

[0087] deal with Start of pollination date Total number of seedlings (plants) Number of fruits set (pieces) Fruit setting rate Example 4 September 4, 2021 100 62 62.00％ Comparative Example 3 September 7, 2021 87 32 36.78％

[0088] Example 5

[0089] A method for promoting flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth of watermelons (field trial) includes the following steps:

[0090] The watermelon variety used in the experiment was "Double-Color Ice Cream," and the experiment was conducted in Shanghai.

[0091] Sowing took place on August 3, 2022, and the seedlings were transplanted into the greenhouse on August 10. On the same day, before transplanting, the watermelon seedlings were treated with a root drenching treatment using the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation prepared in Example 1, with an inoculation rate of 5 × 10⁶. 7One spore per plant, i.e., 5 mL per plant for root irrigation. Watermelons are grown using conventional ground-creeping cultivation with single-vine training.

[0092] Comparative Example 4

[0093] Repeat the steps in Example 5, except that water is used instead of Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension preparation for root irrigation treatment of watermelon seedlings.

[0094] Example 6

[0095] A method for promoting flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth of watermelons (field trial) includes the following steps:

[0096] Repeat the steps in Example 5, except that the experimental watermelon variety used is "Shenmi No. 1".

[0097] Comparative Example 5

[0098] Repeat the steps in Example 6, except that water is used instead of Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension preparation for root irrigation treatment of watermelon seedlings.

[0099] Test Example 3

[0100] During the flowering period, an investigation was conducted on watermelon seedlings from Examples 5, 4, 6, and 5. The results showed that, compared to Comparative Example 4, the "Double-Color Ice Cream" variety in Example 5 began pollination 3 days earlier in the early fruit-setting stage (pollination period); compared to Comparative Example 5, the "Double-Color Ice Cream" variety in Example 5 began pollination 6 days earlier in the early fruit-setting stage; the initial fruit set number and fruit set rate of both varieties were significantly improved compared to the comparative example. Details are shown in Table 2.

[0101] Table 2. Statistical results of flowering period and fruit set of watermelon seedlings in Example 5, Comparative Example 4, Example 6 and Comparative Example 5.

[0102] deal with Start of pollination date Total number of seedlings (plants) Number of fruits set (pieces) Fruit setting rate Example 5 September 4, 2022 50 37 74％ Comparative Example 4 September 7, 2022 50 25 50％ Example 6 September 8, 2022 50 29 58％ Comparative Example 5 September 14, 2022 50 21 42％

[0103] Example 7

[0104] A method for promoting flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth of soybeans (indoor pot experiment) includes the following steps:

[0105] Experimental Methods: The soybean variety Essex was used, and five plants were grown in pots in a glass greenhouse under natural light and at a temperature of 20–25°C. During the cotyledon stage, a suspension of *Trichoderma tumefaciens* strain T-51 prepared in Example 1 was used for root drenching at a concentration of 1 × 10⁻⁶. 7 One spore / mL, 25mL per pot for root irrigation, which is an average of 5mL per plant.

[0106] Comparative Example 6

[0107] Repeat the steps in Example 7, except that water is used instead of the Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension preparation for root irrigation treatment of soybean seedlings at the cotyledon stage.

[0108] Test Example 4

[0109] The results of the investigation into the growth of soybean seedlings in Example 7 and Comparative Example 6 are as follows: Figures 6-8 As shown, where Figure 8 The figures show phenotypic diagrams of soybean plant growth in Example 7 and Comparative Example 6, where T-51 represents Example 7 and CK represents Comparative Example 6.

[0110] Depend on Figures 6-8 It can be seen that, compared with Comparative Example 6, the soybeans in Example 7 grew faster. During the vegetative growth period, the average plant height of Example 7 and Comparative Example 6 was 69.6 cm and 56.3 cm, respectively; the number of compound leaves in Example 7 and Comparative Example 6 was 7.2 and 6.3, respectively.

[0111] The flowering status of soybean seedlings in Example 7 and Comparative Example 6 was investigated, and the results are as follows: Figures 9-10 As shown, where Figure 10 The image shows the phenotypic diagrams of flowering soybean plants in Example 7 and Comparative Example 6, where T-51 represents Example 7 and CK represents Comparative Example 6.

[0112] Depend on Figures 9-10 It can be concluded that, compared with Comparative Example 6, the flowering period in Example 7 was advanced by 2 to 3 days, and the average number of flowers at the same time was significantly increased.

[0113] Example 8

[0114] A method for promoting flowering, fruit setting, and vegetative growth in Arabidopsis thaliana (indoor pot experiment) is described below:

[0115] Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type Col-0 was grown in an indoor artificial climate chamber under the following conditions: 22℃, 50% relative humidity, and 16 hours of light. After sowing, the Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings were transplanted to the 4-leaf stage into 72-cell seedling trays, one seedling per cell. One week after transplanting, the Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings were treated with a root drenching of 10 mL per seedling using a suspension of Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 prepared in Example 1.

[0116] Comparative Example 7

[0117] Repeat the steps in Example 8, except that water is used instead of the Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension preparation for root irrigation treatment of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings.

[0118] Test Example 5

[0119] Thirty days after the root irrigation treatment in Example 8 and Comparative Example 7, the rosette leaf diameter, flower stalk height, number of flowers, and above-ground fresh weight of Arabidopsis thaliana were investigated, and the results are as follows: Figure 11 As shown in Table 3, where Figure 11 In the diagram, T-51 represents Example 8, CK represents Comparative Example 7, the top left and top right corners are top views of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings after 30 days of root drenching treatment in Example 8 and Comparative Example 7, respectively, and the bottom left and bottom right corners are top views of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings after 30 days of root drenching treatment in Example 8 and Comparative Example 7, respectively.

[0120] Table 3. Statistical results of flowering and growth of Arabidopsis thaliana in Example 8 and Comparative Example 7.

[0121] deal with Rosette leaf diameter (cm) Flower stem height (cm) Number of flowers Fresh weight on the ground (mg) Example 8 5.5±0.7** 11.8±3.5** 16.3±8** 0.5±0.2** Comparative Example 7 4.4±0.6 6.9±2.1 3.8±3 0.2±0.1

[0122] Depend on Figure 11 Table 3 shows that Arabidopsis thaliana treated with the Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 suspension preparation described in this invention exhibits vigorous growth, larger leaves, significantly earlier flowering, and a significantly increased number of flowers during the same period.

[0123] From the above examples, it can be concluded that Trichoderma tumefaciens strain T-51 can advance the flowering period of plants, increase the number of flowers, improve the number and rate of fruit set, and promote the vegetative growth of plants, thereby achieving the technical effects of shortening the breeding cycle and accelerating the breeding process.

[0124] Although the above embodiments have provided a detailed description of the present invention, they are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. People can obtain other embodiments based on these embodiments without creative effort, and these embodiments all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. The application of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 in promoting flowering and / or fruit setting in plants, characterized in that, The preservation number of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 is CCTCC NO: M2015729; the promotion of plant flowering includes promoting earlier flowering and / or increasing the number of plant flowers.

2. The application according to claim 1, characterized in that, The *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 is used in the form of a suspension formulation, wherein the effective concentration of *Trichoderma tumefaciens* T-51 in the suspension formulation is 10. 6 ~10 8 spores / mL.

3. A method for promoting flowering and / or fruit setting in plants, characterized in that, The seedlings were treated with root irrigation using Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation; The Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation includes Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51; the effective concentration of Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 in the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation is 10. 6 ~10 8 spores / mL; The preservation number of the *Trichoderma cornuta* T-51 is CCTCC NO: M2015729; Promoting plant flowering includes promoting earlier flowering and / or increasing the number of plant flowers.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The preparation method of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation includes the following steps: inoculating Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 onto PDA medium for activation culture to obtain Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 colonies; inoculating the mycelia of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 colonies onto PDA medium for spore culture to obtain colonies containing Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 conidia; adding water to the colonies containing Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 conidia, scraping off the conidia on the surface of the colonies, mixing well, and obtaining the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension formulation.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The plants include one or more of the Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, and Brassicaceae families.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the plant is a Cucurbitaceae plant, the plant seedlings include seedlings at the two-leaf-one-heart stage, seedlings at the cotyledon stage, or seedlings at the one-leaf-one-heart stage; the dosage of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation is 2.5-10 mL / plant.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the plant is a legume, the plant seedlings include cotyledon stage seedlings or one-node stage seedlings; the dosage of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation is 2.5-10 mL / plant.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the plant is a cruciferous plant, the plant seedling is a seedling at the four-leaf to eight-leaf stage; the dosage of the Trichoderma tumefaciens T-51 suspension preparation is 5 to 15 mL / plant.

Images