Department of Plant Pathology and Agril. Microbiology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra, India
*Email: suryawanshikk@gmail.com
Online published on 25 December, 2014.
In the dual culture technique, Trichoderma harzianum was tested with, Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium aphanidermatum, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cumini, Sclerotium rolfsii, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus niger. Maximum growth inhibition of Macrophomina phaseolina(71.00%) was recorded followed by Rhizoctonia solani(60.45%) and Pythium aphanidermatum(60.37%). Similarly the growth of other test pathogens was also significantly inhibited by Trichoderma harzianum.
Soil-borne plant pathogens are often difficult to manage with the fungicides and other ordinary methods. However, in recent years indiscriminate and extensive use of pesticides has posed a serious problem of pollution in the ecosystem and development of resistance in the pathogen. Therefore, biological control of the pathogens has gained importance as a component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for sustainable agriculture, as it is long lasting and eco-friendly.
Trichoderma is an exceptionally a good bio-control agent as it is ubiquitous, easy to isolate and culture, multiply rapidly on many subtracts, acts as a mycoparasite and competes well for food and site. Several important plant diseases caused by species of Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium and Sclerotinia have been reported to be managed effectively by Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum, T. hamatum and T. longibrachiatum (Arya and Kausik, 2001). The purpose of present study is to evaluate the antagonistic level of T. harzianum against various seed/soil borne plant pathogens.
