Characterisation and antagonistic potential of Trichoderma species isolated from forest soils of central India against Rhizoctonia solani.

MADHYA Pradesh (India); INDIA

Rhizoctonia solani is a plant pathogenic fungus that significantly reduces the productivity and establishment of several significant food crops worldwide. Currently, very limited curative treatment is available to treat damping off, stem lesions, stem rot, root rot, crown rot, and aerial web blighting symptoms caused by R. solani. Trichoderma has attained immense importance in the last few decades due to its biological control ability against several phytopathogens. The present study was undertaken to find out the antagonist potential of different Trichoderma spp., isolated from forest soils of central India, against R. solani under invitro conditions. Rhizosphere soil samples from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Forest divisions were collected randomly and screened for the presence of Trichoderma. Isolates were identified morphologically using a Leica Microscope and molecularly through internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Invitro antagonistic activity in different Trichoderma isolates was performed against R. solani followed by dual culture method. The results revealed that all Trichoderma isolates are fast-growing and have the ability to inhibit the growth of R. solani. One of the isolates Trichoderma cf. longibrachiatum (isolate number: TD14) showed the maximum inhibition (56.25%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]