Evaluation of Trichoderma isolates as potential biological control agent against soybean charcoal rot disease caused by Macrophomina phaseolina

Abstract

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid remains the prevailing causal agent of charcoal rot disease that significantly suppresses the yield of a variety of oilseed crops. Its wide host range and ability to survive under arid conditions, coupled with the ineffective use of fungicides against it, have spurred scientific endeavours for alternative avenues to control this phytopathogen. Hence, the present study aimed to provide empirical evidence of the efficacy of three fungal isolates (T2, T10 and T12) of Trichoderma harzianum as biological control agents against charcoal rot in soybean (Glycine max L.). The results of the in vitro studies revealed that all three fungal isolates significantly inhibited the growth of M. phaseolina phytopathogen, with T12 showing considerably higher inhibition effect than T2 and T10 isolates. T12 inhibited the growth of M. phaseolina in the dual culture (72.31%) and volatile production (63.36%) assays, and the hyperparasitism test indicated cell lysis following the interactions with T12 mycelia. T12 isolate was mostly effective in field experiments, observable in the attained minimum plant disease indices both in the soil incorporation (11.98%) and seed inoculation (5.55%) treatments, in comparison to isolates T2 and T10. Moreover, the stem and root lengths, as well as the seed weight, were considerably increased, as compared to the control. Hence, the findings reported in the present study supported the applicability of T12 isolate as possible alternative to fungicides for the control of charcoal rot in soybean.

Screening, identification, optimization of fermentation conditions, and extraction of secondary metabolites for the biocontrol of Rhizoctonia Solani AG-3

“…The distinctively larger inhibition zone seen in this study strongly implied liberation of higher amount of antibiotic that led to the observed inhibition. This is one of the many key criteria considered by scientists, when bioprospecting for potent biological control agent [16]. Over 60 compounds are used in over 9000 bioactive components that were isolated from actinomycetes in antibiotics, agro-antibiotics, and research.…”

Optimization of cultivation conditions in banana wastes for production of extracellular β-glucosidase byTrichoderma harzianumRifai efficient forin vitroinhibition ofMacrophomina phaseolina

“…The antagonistic efficacy of the T12 isolate utilized in this study was reported in our previous work [5]. Following the method described in [23], the pure culture of T. harzianum T12 was grown as detailed below.…”

“…The antagonistic efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum against M. phaseolina used for combating M. phaseolina infections has been widely described [3,5]. T. harzianum is one of several antagonistic fungal species found effective against this phytopathogen [5,6], some of which enhance the systemic resistance and improve overall plant growth [7].…”

“…T. harzianum is one of several antagonistic fungal species found effective against this phytopathogen [5,6], some of which enhance the systemic resistance and improve overall plant growth [7]. Apart from the well-known biocontrol mechanisms, viz.…”

“…Although the use of chemical fungicides may be effective as a preventive measure [2], the soilborne nature of M. phaseolina [3] renders the effort futile. Aside to being expensive, the continuous utilization of chemical fungicides could interfere with the delicate balance of beneficial soil microbes [4], hence giving rise to new fungicide resistant strains [5].…”