Screening of Trichoderma species for Their Biological Control Potential against Sclerotium rolfsii (The Cause of Collar Rot of Chickpea)

In the present study in-vitro antagonistic effect of four species of Trichoderma. T. harzianum (FCBP-732), T.viridi (FCBP-1123), T. koningii (FCBP-951), T. aureoviridie (FCBP-691) was studied (assessed) against a destructive soil-borne plant pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii Trichoderma species were screened by dual culture method. In this method antagonistic and pathogenic fungi were grown side by side on the growth media (i.e., potato dextrose agar) in the same petridish. Trichoderma shows antagonistic effect against sclerotia species resulting up to 100-95 % reduction in its growth T.harzianum showed the best (results) antagonistic effect followed by Trichoderma viridi causing 95-90% reduction in pathogen growth. The percentage reduction in number of sclerotia of S.rolfsii is due to the interaction with different Trichoderma spp. was also recorded the present study showed that T. harzianum has the best antagonistic result against S.rolfsii followed by T. viridi