Trichoderma: A Most Powerful Bio-control Agent-A Review

Fungi in the genus Trichoderma have long been known as bio-control agents of plant diseases, and have become a valued part of agricultural disease management. Trichoderma by virtue of its broad spectrum action against a number of plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and even nematodes has occupied the top position among the bio-protectants developed for plant diseases management. Trichoderma based bio-pesticides have been proved successful in a large number of field, vegetable, fruit and flowering crop for the management of diseases. Because of its eco-friendly nature and low cost when compared with chemical protectant has been widely adopted all over the world. Research in the past few years has clearly shown that selected strains of the fungi provide an eco-friendly well balanced plant health management system through systemic resistance to diseases of biotic and a biotic nature, increasing seed vigour, improving nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency, enhancement of root area.