The Effect of Trichoderma spp. on the Growth and Development of Alhagi maurorum and Evaluation of Its Potential for Biological Control
Ilham Aytenov1* 
, Aytan Safarova2 ,
Gulnar Shirinova3 , and Saliga Gazi4
Abstract. Alhagi maurorum is characterized as a rapidly spreading weed outside its natural distribution range, with a high capacity to adapt to various soil and climatic conditions, and is particularly considered an undesirable plant in pasture and forage areas. In addition, the richness of this plant in biologically active compounds and its interactions with phytopathogenic microorganisms make it a relevant subject for investigation in the field of biological control. In modern agriculture, the investigation of alternatives to chemical control agents and the study of plant–microorganism interactions are of great importance for the development of biological control strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction between Alhagi maurorum and Trichoderma spp. and to determine the effects of Trichoderma strains on plant development and biological resistance to phytopathogens. During the study, soil and plant samples were collected from different areas, fungal isolation was performed on Czapek medium, solidified malt extract medium, the obtained Trichoderma isolates were evaluated based on their morphological characteristics, and culture solutions were prepared. The results obtained demonstrated that the application of Trichoderma spp. could positively affect the growth parameters of Alhagi maurorum and indicated that the plant–microorganism interaction has considerable biological potential. Furthermore, the Trichoderma isolates were found to have potential as biological control agents capable of suppressing the development of phytopathogenic fungi. The findings of this study demonstrate that the interaction between Alhagi maurorum and Trichoderma spp. has significant scientific and practical potential for maintaining plant health, developing biological control agents, and promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural technologies.
Keywords: Alhagi maurorum, Trichoderma spp., microorganisms, biological control, biologically active compounds