In vitro Antagonistic Activity of Trichoderma Species against Agriculturally Important Plant Pathogenic Fungi

Abstract

Various species of Trichoderma are widely recognized as prominent biocontrol agents, and they are known for their cost-effectiveness, efficacy, and environmentally friendly nature. However, conducting further experiments is essential to explore their full potential and validate their effectiveness in specific applications or under varying conditions. The present study aims at evaluating the antagonistic behavior of two most common Trichoderma species, T. viride and T. harzianum, against six highly problematic plant pathogenic fungi viz. Alternaria solani, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Colletotrichum capsici, Curvularia oryzae, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, and Phomopsis vexans under in vitro conditions. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with 3 replications for each treatment. Both the Trichoderma species displayed significant antagonistic activity against all the tested fungal pathogens in dual cultures, resulting in a 7-36% and 13-40% mycelial growth inhibition in tested pathogens by T. viride and T. harzianum, respectively. T. viride demonstrated greater efficacy against C. capsici and C. oryzae, while T. harzianum was more effective against A. solani, B. sorokiniana, F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, and P. vexans.