respiration, growth regulation and reproduction and, in the most
severe conditions, lead to death (Stoeva et al., 2005; Tripathi et al.,
2007). However,the level of As toxicity for the plant depends on the
combination of several factors, including the cultivar genetic background,
the agronomic management of the crop and the quality
of the rhizospheric microbiome (Tripathi et al., 2013). Trichoderma
species (spp.) includes strains that are worldwide known as highly
rhizospere-competent fungi, thus able to colonize the entire root
system and actively persist on it for the entire lifespan of different
annual crops (Tucci et al., 2011).