Assessment of biocontrol potential of Trichoderma isolates against wilt in pulses

Potentiality of Trichoderma isolates was assessed against wilt pathogen of pulse crops. Trichoderma spp. were identified by DNA bar-coding based on the sequences of internal transcribed spacers regions; and characterization of ech-42 and xyn-2 gene was also done for the Trichoderma spp. Among the 14 tested Trichoderma isolates, IIPRTh-33, IIPRRTas-8 and IIPRTas-13 showed the presence of xyn-2 genes. While the seven isolates (IIPRTh-33, IIPRTas-8, IIPRTas-13, IIPRTh-31, IIPRTg-3, IIPRTh-38, IIPRTh-20) showed the presence of ech-42 gene. The highest chitinase and xylanase activity was observed in IIPRTh-33 and IIPRTh-31. All the isolates were also screened for siderophore and IAA production. Ethyl acetate extract of two Trichoderma isolates (IIPRTh-31 and IIPR.Tg-3) yielded more than 43 metaboilites out of which 2H-Pyran-2- one and 1,2-benzenedioxylic acid esters, Benzaldehyde, 4-nitro- tetradecanoic acid3-methylheptadecanol, methyl cyclohexane, 6-nonylene alcohol, methyl-cyclopentane, 2-methyl heptadecanol, N-methyl pyrollidine, dermadin, ketotriol, koningin-A, palmitic acid, 3-(2’-hydroxypropyl)-4-(hexa-2’-4- dineyl)-2-(5H)-furanone, Phenylethyl Alcohol and 3-(propenone)-4-(hexa- 2’-4’- dineyl)-2-(5H)-furanone were reported to have antifungal activity of Trichoderma isolate. Trichoderma isolates IIPRTh- 31 was tolerant to heat shock of 50°C and observed to be superior salt-tolerant among all the tested isolates.