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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
The current research reveals the biocontrol potential of local Trichoderma isolates against the fungal pathogen Penicillium digitatum which causes green rot of Citrus fruit. In the present investigation, the isolates of Trichoderma spp. grown from locally collected soil samples were screened against the fungal pathogen Penicillium digitatum, which resulted into the substantial inhibition of the fungal phytopathogen. The soil samples collected from various local rhizosphere of Bihar state in India were inoculated on various nutritive media especially the Trichoderma Specific Media (TSM) and Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media using the serial dilution technique. Altogether 11 different Trichoderma spp. were isolated. These isolates were identified using authentic manual of fungi for morphological and microscopic identification and further identification was done based on molecular techniques using D1/D2 region of LSU (Large SubUnit:28S rDNA). The pathogen Penicillium digitatum was isolated from rotten citrus fruits and were confirmed by its microscopic identification. The antagonistic capability of Trichoderma isolates was checked by screening it against the fungal phytopathogen using three antagonistic techniques namely Dual culture, Culture Filtrate Assay and Slide culture Assay. The isolates of Trichoderma spp. (TH-5) and (TA-7) having a higher antagonistic potential among all the isolates of Trichoderma, at optimum temperature were selected for In vitro screening against the fungal pathogen Penicillium digitatum. In the dual culture technique, the isolate TH-5 showed 76.9% growth inhibition while the isolate TA-7 showed 78.8% growth inhibition against P. digitatum. The cell free culture filtrate which was extracted from Trichoderma isolates were screened at three different concentrations i.e., 20%, 40% and 60% against the fungal phytopathogen. The screening of culture filtrate against the fungal pathogen also shows significant inhibition of radial growth especially at 40% and 60% concentration. The maximum inhibition was recorded for TH-5 and TA-7 isolates. Similarly, the TH-5 and TA-7 isolates were grown with both fungal pathogens on slide culture and the growth of mycelia was measured. The impact of slide culture method was marked as reduced mycelial growth of the fungal pathogen Penicillium digitatum. These In Vitro tests revealed the biocontrol potential of Trichoderma isolates against Penicillium digitatum, confirming the capability of the local Trichoderma isolates in the biological control of the fungal pathogen Penicillium digitatum.