Biological Control Activity of Three Trichoderma Isolates Against Fusarium Wilts of Cotton and Muskmelon and Lack of Correlation with their Lytic Enzymes

Abstract The enzymatic activity and the biocontrol ability of two new isolates of Trichoderma spp. (T‐68 and Gh‐2) were compared in laboratory and glasshouse experiments with a previously studied T. harzianum strain (T‐35). In dual culture tests with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis and F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, isolates T‐68 and Gh‐2 overgrew the colonies of Fusarium, whereas T‐35 failed to parasitize both wilt pathogens. Under glasshouse conditions, the three isolates of Trichoderma were effective in controlling Fusarium wilt of cotton but only T‐35 was effective against F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis on muskmelon. When the three Trichoderma isolates were grown on liquid media containing laminarin, colloidal chitin or F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis cell walls as sole carbon sources, maximum β‐1,3‐glucanase and chitinase specific activity in the culture filtrates of all fungi was reached after 72h of incubation. When culture filtrates of the three Trichoderma isolates were incubated with freeze‐dried mycelium of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis or F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, different concentrations of glucose and N‐acetyl‐D‐glucosamine were released. Overall no correlation was found between enzymatic activity and the biocontrol capability against Fusarium wilt on muskmelon and cotton.