Abstracto

In vitro Screening for Antagonistic Potential of Seven Species of Trichoderma against Different Plant Pathogenic Fungi

Bhumi Narsimha Reddy, Kamma Venkata Saritha and Amballa Hindumathi

The antagonistic potential of seven different species of Trichoderma isolated from the rhizosphere soils of tomato and chilli plants were evaluated in vitro against the most widely occurring soil inhabiting plant pathogens viz., Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, Alternaria solani, Aspergillus niger and Macrophomina phaseolina and identify the Trichoderma strain with high antagonistic potential. All the isolates of Trichoderma species highly inhibited the growth of the three test pathogens by producing volatile and non-volatile inhibitors showing variability in antagonistic potential of different Trichoderma species against the different pathogens tested. Maximum growth inhibition of Alternaria solani (86.6% and 86.6%) and F. oxysporum (81.1% and 80.0%) was recorded by T. virens and T. pseudokoningii respectively, by producing volatile inhibitors. Whereas, growth inhibition of A. solani (86.6% and 83.3%) and F. oxysporum (82.2% and 78.9%) by T. virens and T. pseudokoningii respectively, was recorded by producing non-volatile inhibitors. However, M. phaseolina was comparatively less inhibited by all the species of Trichoderma by producing volatile and non-volatile compounds. T. virens, T. pseudokoningii, T. atroviride and T. koningii showed high antagonistic potential against A. solani and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici.