Trichoderma- based treatments modulate sorghum metabolome and reduce mycotoxin contamination

Background Sorghum bicolor (L. Moench.), the fifth most produced cereal worldwide, is primarily used as animal feed. Agricultural crops rely on synthetic chemicals, but these products are expensive, pollute the environment, and pose risks to both animals and humans. Microbial formulations, including those utilizing fungi from the genus Trichoderma, provide an eco-friendly alternative by boosting crop productivity, enhancing plant stress tolerance, and managing pests and diseases. Results In this study, the effects of formulations based on a natural adhesive (polysaccharides derived from carob), Trichoderma harzianum M10 and/or T. afroharzianum T22, were evaluated on sorghum in field trials. Plant tissue samples were collected and analyzed for mycotoxins content, untargeted metabolomics and chemical composition. The results showed that Trichoderma applications significantly influenced the plant metabolome, reduced mycotoxin accumulation under artificial storage stress conditions, especially when a combination of M10 and T22 was applied. Moreover, the introduced biocontrol agents significantly altered the nutritional profile of sorghum grains, particularly increasing the starch content in M10 and M10 + T22 (63.81% and 67.65%, respectively). Conclusions Trichoderma‐based formulations, especially the combined application of T. harzianum M10 and T. afroharzianum T22 with a natural polysaccharide adhesive, improved sorghum quality and resilience. They lowered mycotoxin accumulation under stress, altered the plant metabolome, and modulated grain composition, notably enhancing crude protein and starch levels. These findings highlight Trichoderma as a sustainable strategy to boost plant defense and nutritional value while reducing use of chemicals.