The Effect of Trichoderma harzianum and Cadmium on Tolerance Index and Yield of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

To investigate the effect of Trichoderma harzianum, as a bioabsorbant to ameliorate the harmful effects of cadmium (Cd) on growth and yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. variety ‘Sahra’), a factorial pot experiment based on completely randomized design with three replicates was conducted. Trichoderma harzianum withtwo levels (with and without inoculation) and cadmium nitrate with four levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 mg.L-1) were the treatments. Results of ANOVA revealed that there was a significant interaction between Trichoderma and cadmium nitrate in terms of biological yield, straw yield, harvest index, spike number per plant and seed number per spike. Mean comparisons showed that Trichoderma inoculation at all Cd levels significantly improved both biological and straw yields. Trichoderma at 50 and 100 mg.L-1 of Cd also increased the spike number per plant (up to 120 and 66%, respectively) significantly. Increasing Cd levels decreased seed yield (19%), 1000 seed weight (18%), partitioning coefficient (57%) and tolerance index (23%) significantly. Inoculation of Trichoderma into growth medium had a significant effect on seed yield and tolerance index (up to 17 and 22%, respectively). In conclusion, Trichoderma harzianum inoculation at lower concentrations of Cd (50 and 100 mg.L-1) could be effective to improve growth parameters of barley plant.