Effects of Seed Priming with Talaromyces ruber Extracts on Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Growth

Modern agriculture requires effective and sustainable tools to enhance crop performance while minimizing the environmental impact. In this context, the application of fungal-derived bioactive compounds directly onto seeds represents a promising alternative. In this study, tomato seeds (Solanum lycopersicum) were subjected to mycopriming treatment using two fungal extracts obtained from the mycelium and culture filtrate of Talaromyces ruber. Two independent greenhouse trials were conducted to assess germination dynamics, morphometric traits, and physiological parameters (chlorophyll content, flavonol index, and anthocyanin index). Although germination rates were not significantly affected, root development was consistently enhanced by the treatments compared with the control group in both experiments. In contrast, no clear improvement was observed in shoot growth or leaf physiological parameters. Overall, the application of T. ruber extracts via seed priming proved to be a feasible strategy to stimulate early-stage root development in tomatoes, potentially contributing to improved seedling vigor and agronomic performance. These findings support the potential use of fungal extracts as practical tools for improving seedling quality in commercial nursery production.