Improvement in Biocontrol Ability of Trichoderma viride Through Gamma Irradiation

Trichoderma viride are identified to act against on array of important soil borne plant pathogens. The antagonistic ability of a Trichoderma viride was determined by its physiological state so that change in genetical conditions could alter the antagonism. Hence, the genetic modification using mutagenesis offers the potential for producing improved bioprotection is likely to enhance their biocontrol capabilities against soil borne pathogen. For mutagenesis study the spores were exposed to gamma radiation. The influence of gamma irradiation on improving production of antifungal metabolites and biological proficiency of the biocontrol agent against soil borne pathogen. Trichoderma viride were irradiated in different dose of gamma radiation (cobalt-60) @ 0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 k-rad. for induced mutation. Sixteen Trichoderma viride mutants were obtained gamma irradiation and tested for their antagonistic activities in vitro. Morphological characters of efficient mutants were tested up to sixgeneration to check their stability. Among these TVGM1 were proved as effective antagonists against Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia bataticola and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.ciceri basis of their maximum bioefficiency. The highest chitinase enzyme units/mg of protein i.e.0.62 was exerted in TVGM1 having respectively. However, TVGM4 contains 0.45 enzyme units, it showed maximum ability against pathogens.