Evaluation of antagonistic activity and plant growth promotion by paste formulation of Trichoderma harzianum

Abstract

The present study was proposed to test the efficacy of a formulation of T. harzianum suitable for application through seed treatment. Paste formulation containing starch 10 percent + copper sulphate 20 ppm at pH 4 was tested in vitro for their effect on the mycelial growth of 9 important pathogens namely Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Pythium aphanidermatum, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, Phytophthora infestans, Botrydiplodia theobromae, Mycosphaerella musicola, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and Sclerotium rolfsii was studied which showed that the paste formulation inhibited the mycelial growth of all the 9 pathogens tested at all five concentration. The higher concentration of paste formulation had more inhibitory effect than lower concentration against all the pathogen. The paste formulaton of T. harzianum has significantly increased seed germination, shoot length, root length, seedling mean, dry matter production, vigour index in blackgram, chilli, cotton, sunflower, and tomato. Seed treatment @ 5 g/Kg of seed has recorded significantly higher colonization of seed surface in black gram, chilli, cotton and tomato and in the case of sunflower, seed treatment @ 3g/Kg of seed has recorded the highest colonization.