Isolation, Identification and In Vitro Test for the Biocontrol Potential of Trichoderma viride on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersici

Tsegaye Mekuria Ayele,Guesh Desta Gebremariam,Subban Patharajan

doi:10.2174/1874331502115010010

Abstract

Introduction: Tomato production in Ethiopia is challenged by many pests and diseases. Fusarium wilt is one of the most important diseases of tomato affecting its productivity. Methods: Tomato tissue and soil samples were collected from tomato farmlands around Aksum town to isolate and identify pathogenic Fusarium species and Trichoderma species with biocontrol efficacy. Samples were processed in the Aksum University Biotechnology laboratory following standard procedures. Results and Discussion: Eight Fusarium and five Trichoderma isolates were obtained. Six of the Fusarium isolates were identified as Fusarium oxysporum, whereas the remaining two were Fusarium equiseti and Fusarium circinatum. Detached leaf bioassay of the F. oxysporum on tomato leaves showed leaf lesion on the tomato variety, Melka oda. The isolated Trichoderma strains were screened for biocontrol potential against virulent F. oxysporum in vitro. The Trichoderma isolate showing the highest biocontrol efficacy against the virulent Fusarium was morphologically identified as Trichoderma viride. in vitro F. oxysporum-T. viride dual culture assay demonstrated that T. viride inhibits the growth of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici with 76.94% growth inhibition. Conclusion: Fusarium oxysporum is prevalent in tomato growing farmlands covered in this study. T. viride identified in this study is an effective biocontrol agent for the identified F. oxysporum fsp. lycopersici in vitro.

Highlights

Tomato production in Ethiopia is challenged by many pests and diseases
Plots of lands cultivated with tomato were investigated for the occurrence of Fusarium wilt disease and 20 tomato and 26 soil samples were collected from the plots using sterile polyethylene plastic sampling bags
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation conducted on Fusarium and Trichoderma species from the farmlands around Axum town, the centre of ancient Axumite civilization, where scientific studies are emerging following the establishment of Aksum University as a governmental higher learning institution

Summary

Introduction

Tomato production in Ethiopia is challenged by many pests and diseases. Fusarium wilt is one of the most important diseases of tomato affecting its productivity. Tomato is one of the major economically important vegetables worldwide [1, 2]. It is a widely grown vegetable cash crop in Ethiopia [3]. Fusarium wilt is one of the most important diseases of tomatoes worldwide. It is a devastating disease that affects many important food and vegetable crops and a major source of loss to farmers worldwide [6]. Fusarium equiseti is becoming an emerging tomato wilt pathogen [10].

Methods

Results

Conclusion