BIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF TRICHODERMA SPECIES IN THE CONTROL OF SOME PHYTOPATHOGENIC FUNGI

Abstract

Trichoderma are soilborne, green-spored ascomycetes that can be found all over the world. They are well known for their antagonistic ability towards the control of plant pathogenic fungi. Current research reveals the potential of Trichoderma species against fiveplant pathogenic fungi viz.,Ceratocystis fimbriata,Colletotrichum gleosporiodes,Alternaria solani, Fusarium solani and Verticillium sppTrichoderma species viz., Trichoderma harzianum,Trichoderma viridae and Trichoderma harzianum (AT strain) were evaluated under laboratory conditions for their antagonistic ability towards test fungi.All the Trichoderma isolates had marked statistical inhibitory effect on mycelial growth of test fungi over control. Among theseT. harzianum (AT) gave better results showing 85.19% radial growth inhibition of C. fimbriatawith the mean radial growth of 1.79 cm. followed by 83.09, 79.69, 76.66 and 73.66 percent growth inhibition of F. solani, A. solani, C. gleosporioides and Verticillium spp respectively. Topsin-M was used as positive control that gave maximum growth reduction of all tested fungal species over negative control. Under glasshouse conditions T. harzianum (AT) when tested against C. fimbriataalso gave good results by showing reduced colonization (52.55%) of pathogen in the soil. For the management of mango sudden death syndrome (MSDS) affected plants in the field,T. harzianum (AT) showed significant response for the control of the disease among all the treatments. These investigations constitute a strong base in future for use of Trichoderma species as a potential biological agent for the management of various diseases of plants.