IN VITRO SCREENING OF TRICHODERMA SPECIES AGAINST MACROPHOMINA PHASEOLINA AND FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM F. SP. LYCOPERSICI.

In vitro bioassays were carried out to evaluate antagonistic behavior of seven species of Trichoderma namely T. pseudokoningii, T. harzianum, T. reesei, T. koningii, T. hanatus, T. viridi and T. aureoviridi, against two highly problematic soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi viz. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Sacc.) Snyder & Hansn and Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. All the Trichoderma species exhibited pronounced antagonistic behavior against the target fungal pathogens in dual cultures resulting in 45-65% and 59-74% reduction in radial growth of M. phaseolina and F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, respectively. T. harzianum was found to be the most effective biocontrol agent against both the fungal pathogens followed by T. aureoviridi and T. hanatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]