Micro-farming specific morpho-molecular characterization of Trichoderma isolates and its bio-control potential against foliar fungal plant pathogens

In order to understand the use of micro farming specific local bio-control agents against the foliar pathogens, twenty-one Trichoderma isolates were collected from different cropping locations of Karnataka. In morphological characterization: all colonies were appeared dark green with flat, even/uneven growth with 2-4 concentric rings and sporulation was observed after 2-4 days after inoculation on potato dextrose agar medium. The length x width of conidia and phialides varied from 2.5-4.6 mu m x 2.5-4.6 mu m and 6-11.3 mu m x 2-3.5 mu m respectively. In Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis of 5.8S-ITS region was amplified using ITS-4 and 5. These results assisted in species identification and classified into five clades (T. harzianum: 11, T. asperellum; 5, T. virde; 2, T. virens; 2 and T. longibrachiatum; 1). Further, in antagonistic activity, RMlO exhibited highest growth inhibition of Asperisporium caricae (96.30%), Pyricularia oryzae (97.03%) and Bipolaris oryzae (100%)) significantly over the commercial isolate (A. caricae (85.93%); P. oryzae (89.38%) and B. oryzae (91.92%)).

Automated summary

Twenty-one Trichoderma isolates were collected from different cropping locations in Karnataka, and their morphological and molecular characteristics were analyzed. The study showed that these isolates exhibited strong antagonistic activity against foliar pathogens.