Micro-farming specific morpho-molecular characterization of Trichoderma isolates and its bio-control potential against foliar fungal plant pathogens

Abstract

Abstract In order to understand the use of micro farming specific local bio-control agents against the foliar pathogens, twenty-one Trichoderma isolates were collected from different cropping locations of Karnataka. In morphological characterization: all colonies were appeared dark green with flat, even/uneven growth with 2–4 concentric rings and sporulation was observed after 2–4 days after inoculation on potato dextrose agar medium. The length × width of conidia and phialides varied from 2.5–4.6 μm × 2.5–4.6 μm and 6–11.3 μm × 2–3.5 μm respectively. In Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis of 5.8S-ITS region was amplified using ITS-4 and 5. These results assisted in species identification and classified into five clades (T. harzianum: 11, T. asperellum; 5, T. virde; 2, T. virens; 2 and T. longibrachiatum; 1). Further, in antagonistic activity, RMlO exhibited highest growth inhibition of Asperisporium caricae (96.30%), Pyricularia oryzae (97.03%) and Bipolaris oryzae (100%)) significantly over the commercial isolate (A. caricae (85.93%); P. oryzae (89.38%) and B. oryzae (91.92%)).