Competitive saprophytic ability of Trichoderma harzianum compared with Sclerotium rolfsii

The interaction of the bioagent Trichoderma harzianum with the pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii as competitors for autoclaved okra seeds in sand was examined. Densities of each fungus resulting in > 50 percent colonization of 10 seeds were determined separately. In competitive colonization experiments, T. harzianum colonized 70 to 83 per cent of seeds compared with 10 to 13 per cent for S. rolfsii, suggesting competition for organic matter as a possible mechanism for the interaction between these two fungi.