Soil Allies: Exploring the Combined Potential of Folsomia candida and Trichoderma spp. Against Fusarium oxysporum

Abstract

Fusarium oxysporum is a widespread phytopathogenic fungus that affects a variety of crops worldwide. This study evaluated the independent effects of three species of Trichoderma (T. harzianum, T. viride, and T. longibrachiatum) and the springtail Folsomia candida on the suppression of F. oxysporum under laboratory conditions. We conducted separate in vitro assays to assess fungal antagonism and feeding preferences of the springtail. The results demonstrated that all Trichoderma species significantly inhibited F. oxysporum growth, whilst F. candida showed a marked preference for consuming F. oxysporum mycelium over that of the tested Trichoderma species. These findings suggest that both organisms may contribute to the reduction of F. oxysporum independently. This preliminary work lays the foundation for future studies investigating potential interactions and combined biocontrol applications under more complex and ecological settings.