Effect of Seed Priming with Trichoderma on Seed Borne Infection of Macrophomina phaseolina and Seed Quality in Groundnut

Use of biocontrol agents for seed priming against Macrophomina phaseolina and their effect on seed quality were evaluated. Seed transmission was found to be high in discoloured seeds (7.6%). It was 5.5% under unsterilized condition as compared to 2.5% in sterilized seeds. In all the localities, greater infection was noticed in TMV-l than TMV-2 and TMV-7. M. phaseolina infection was observed on seed coat and cotyledon. All the Trichoderma spp. including T viride (Tv-4 & Tv-6); T harzianum (Th-1 & Th-5), T hamatum; T longibrachiatum; T koningii and T pseudokoningii inhibited the pathogen growth significantly and the maximum antagonistic activity was shown by T. harzianum-5. Seed pelleting with Trichoderma spp. protected seeds from M. phaseolina infection and maximum reduction of infection (79.6%) was also shown by T harzianum-5. It also improved seedling vigour, dry matter production and prevented loss of oil content up to six months of storage.