Isolation and molecular characterization of Trichoderma isolates and assessment of their biocontrol efficiency against Rhizoctonia solani

Hydrolytic enzymes producing from Trichoderma species have long been recognized as agents for controlling plant diseases caused by various phytopathogenic fungi. Fourteen Trichoderma isolates were isolated from rhizosphere of Wheat, Alfalfa and Faba bean plants using soil dilution plate method. The forteen Trichoderma isolates were showed positive test for cellulase production. Among of these isolates four Trichoderma isolates (FAYT1, FAYT10, FAYT11, and FAYT14) exhibited highest cellulolytic activities. The percentage inhibitory effect of all the fourteen Trichoderma isolates against growth of Rhizoctonia solani was calculated and ranged from 58.8% to 69.1%. Genetic distances for the four selected Trichoderma strains with high cellulase activity based on the 67 bands obtained from the results of RAPD revealed three groups, among which isolate FAYT1 and FAYT11 were closest to each other.