Effect of Trichoderma Viride, T. Harzianum and Penicillium digitatum on guava fruit decaying pathogens

Present study was undertaken to assess the efficacy Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum and Penicillium digitatumin managing postharvest decaying of guava fruits. These bio-control agents were tested against fruit decaying fungi e.g. Fusarium oxysporum; Alternaria alternata;Rhizopus stolanifer; Gleosporium psiddi and Phomopsis psiddi under in vitro conditions. T. harzianum significantly inhibited the growth of the pathogens, followed by T. viride and Penicillium digitatum. The highest percent inhibition was recorded for Gleosporium psiddi (79.76%), followed by Phomopsis psiddi (72.95%) and Rhizopus stolanifer (67.62%) with T. harzianum. Likewise, the highest percent inhibition in mycelial growth of Phomopsis psiddi was 81.55% and Gleosporium psiddi 84.76% under the influence of T. viride and P. digitatum; Hence, Trichoderma species can be considered as effective biocontrol agents for the control of post harvest fruit rot causing fungal pathogens.