ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF TRICHODERMA SPECIES FROM SOILS FOR USING AGAINST SOME SOILBORNE FUNGAL PATHOGENS

Hydrolytic enzyme producing Trichoderma species have long been recognized as an agent for controlling plant diseases caused by various phytopathogenic fungi. A study was done to characterize four isolates of Trichoderma isolated from the rhizosphere of different crop plants to characterize and identify certain biocontrol related enzymes (β1,3-glucanase and chitinase). Morphological and molecular characterize action of antagonistic ability of Trichoderma species were studied. On the basis of morphological and culture characteristics, the Trichoderma isolates were identified as T. harizanum (1 isolate), T. viride (3 isolates). These isolates were tested against plant pathogens (Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium and Fusarium oxysporum). The best isolate producing chitinase (overproduction) was T. harizanum from (160 to 0.64) mg/ml. On the other hand the best isolate gave over production β-1; 3-glucanase over production was T. viride from (2250 to 2.20 mg/ml)