Antagonistic effect of rhizospheric Trichoderma isolates against tomato damping-off pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici

Abstract

Seven isolates of Trichoderma spp. were obtained from rhizosphere soils of tomato plants in different agricultural fields of Nagpur district. By means of dual culture method, they were examined for antagonism against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, which causes tomato damping-off. Four of the isolates were found to be evidently antagonistic to the pathogens. Based on morphological characteristics, the antagonistic isolates were identified as Trichodeerma harzianum Rifai, Trichodeerma hamatum Rifai, T. longibrachiatum Rifai, T. atroviride Karsten, T. viride Pers, T. ressei Simmons and T. virens Miller. Among these isolates, T. virens showed the strongest inhibition of the growth of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici.