Characterization of Trichoderma Spp From Sugarcane Agro Ecosystem and Their Antagonistic Effects Against Wilt and Smut Diseases of Sugarcane

Abstract

spp. are free-living fungi commonly widespread in soil and root newlineecosystems. Recent discoveries show them as opportunistic, avirulent plant symbionts newlineas well as parasites of other fungi. These fungi also exist in endophytic relationship newlinewith different plant species. Sugarcane is a significant commercial crop of India newlinedeveloped in around 5 million hectares region in the country. Wilt and smut are newlineamong the important diseases that are affecting the sugarcane production. In recent newlineyears, there has been emphasis on using Trichoderma spp. as biocontrol agent in newlinedisease management. Although, there are several research on its use as biocontrol and newlinegrowth promoting agent in several other crop; there is scanty information on newlineTrichoderma spp. from sugarcane. As such the present study was carried out to isolate newlineand characterize Trichoderma spp. from sugarcane and study their potential against newlinewilt and smut pathogens. These isolates were further tested for their growth newlinepromoting potential. newlineTotal 105 Trichoderma isolates were established which includes 43 from newlinerhizopsheric soil and 62 from different plant tissues (root/stalk/leaves) of 10 different newlinevarieties of sugarcane. Frequency of isolation of rhizopsheric Trichoderma was higher newlinefrom conventional field as compared to organic field. Among endophytic newlineTrichoderma, isolation was higher from root (42 isolates) followed by stalk (13 newlineisolates) and leaves (7 isolates). newlineThe isolates were further characterized for colony characters and growth rates newlineat different temperatures. We observed considerable variability among the isolates newlineand the optimum temperature for the maximum isolates was noted to be 30°C. With newlinean increase in temperature beyond 30°C, isolates showed decline in growth except 20isolates that showed growth both at 35°C and 40°C. Seventy five out of 105 isolates newlineshowed yellow pigmentation in agar. newlineInhibitory activity of Trichoderma isolates against Fusarium sacchari was newlineassessed through dual culture and poison food technique.