Effect of Pesticides on the Survival of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai Strain PBAT-21

Trichoderma harzianum is an important biocontrol agent which is being used for the management of many plant diseases. In the present study, eight fungicides - carbendazim, flutriafol+azoxystrobin, thiram, captan, metalaxyl+mancozeb, azoxystrobin, propiconazole and pyraclostrobin; five insecticides - cartap hydrochloride, carbofuran, imidachlorprid, thiamethoxam and chlorpyrifos and eight weedicides - bisbyribac sodium, ethoxysulfuron, chlorimuron + metsulfuron, cladinofop, sulfosulfuron and imazethapyr, pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen at recommended dosages were tested under glass house condition to check its effect on the survival of Trichoderma harzianum strain PBAT-21 in soil. Survival was better in sterilized soil than unsterilized soil. The population of Trichoderma harzianum increased in both sterilized and unsterilized soil on treatment with weedicides like bisbyribac sodium; insecticides like thiamethoxam and fungicides like carbendazim, metalaxyl+mancozeb and pyraclostrobin.