Relative antagonistic efficacy of Trichoderma spp. against Sclerotium rolfsii (Sacc.) causing collar rot of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

The present study was undertaken in order to find out the relative antagonistic efficacy of four Trichoderma species viz., Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma virens and Trichoderma azospirillum, against Sclerotium rolfsii incited collar rot in chickpea. Under in-vitro condition, four species of Trichoderma were tested against S. rolfsii. Minimum radial growth of the S. rolfsii was recorded in the T. viride (20.40 mm), 4 days after inoculation with maximum growth inhibition of 54.67 per cent, statistically superior among all Trichoderma spp. tested, which was followed by T. harzianum, radial growth (22.20 mm) and inhibition (50.67%), by dual culture technique. After 20 days of incubation, maximum per cent reduction of sclerotia formation was recorded in T. virens (73.56%). Efficacy of best in-vitro bioagents, Trichoderma viride and T. harzianum, were evaluated against collar rot disease of chickpea in pot experiment. Impact of treatment application method viz., soil application, seed treatment and integration of both soil application and seed treatment of bioagents were also studied. All the treatments proved significantly superior when compared with pathogen inoculated control. Maximum per cent reduction in pre-emergence seed rot (90.91%) and post emergence seedling mortality (43.75%) were recorded in Trichoderma viride applied through integration of soil application and seed treatment. T. harzianum recorded 81.82 per cent reduction in pre-emergence seed rot and 37.50 per cent post emergence seedling mortality. Maximum per cent final plant population (66.67%) was observed in T. viride applied through integration of soil application and seed treatment. Trichoderma spp. had synergistic impact on plant vigour and grain yield.