2009•Journal of Biological ControlRequires access
Biological Control Potential of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai and Trichoderma viride Pers. Ex S. F. Gray for the Management of Wilt of Maize Caused by Fusarium verticillioides (Nirenberg)
G. Sangeetha
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Abstract
Wilt disease caused by Fusarium verticillioides is a major constraint in cultivation of maize. To manage the wilt pathogen, one native Trichoderma sp., viz., T. viride (NTV) and an isolate of T. harzianum , NBRI 1055 received from NBRI were evaluated for their antagonistic potential in vitro . Among them, T. harzianum NBRI-1055 isolate was more effective on F. verticillioides than T. viride (NTV) with 69.46 per cent inhibition. In further study, seed treatment with T. harzianum (2.0% WP) @ 40 g kg -1 + soil application of T. harzianum @ 2.5 kg ha -1 and seed treatment of T. harzianum @ 20 g kg -1 + soil application of T. harzianum @ 2.5 kg ha -1 recorded the least wilt incidence both in pot culture and in field trials. There was a direct correlation between the disease control and the plant growth. In addition, better plant growth, higher yield, maximum shoot length, dry matter production and dry weight of cobs were recorded with seed treatment of T. harzianum (2.0% WP) @ 40 g ha -1 + soil application @ 2.5 kg ha -1 and followed by seed treatment of T. harzianum @ 20g kg -1 + soil application @ 2.5 kg ha -1 .