BIO-MANAGEMENT OF FUNGAL LEAF SPOT OF TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) USING INDIGENOUS TRICHODERMA ISOLATES

Abstract

One of the main obstacles to feeding the world is the fungal leaf spot disease, which has a negative impact on plants' photosynthetic areas and significantly lowers crop quality and output. To manage fungi that pose a serious hazard to both humans and the environment, various chemical fungicides are utilized. The goal of the current study was to determine whether local isolates of three Trichoderma spp. (Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum, and Trichoderma asperellum) had any antagonistic effects in vitro against the pathogenic fungi Alternaria alternata, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus sydowii, and Alternaria sp. Trichoderma viride showed the greatest growth inhibition against all of the tested pathogenic fungi, followed by Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma asperellum. It was shown that all three Trichoderma species strongly inhibited the mycelial growth of fungal pathogens. Compared to other isolated fungi, Trichoderma species inhibited Alternaria alternata mycelial growth more, whereas in Fusarium oxysporum least amount of mycelial growth inhibition was observed. These findings imply that Trichoderma species can function as an effective biocontrol agent against the fungi responsible for tomato leaf spot disease.