Evaluation of Different Trichoderma Isolates for Cotrolling Agroathelia rolfsii Causing Groundnut Stem Rot Disease

Abstract

The use of biological control agents, particularly Trichoderma species, presents a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides in managing plant diseases. While chemical treatments, such as the fungicide Homai, are commonly used to control pathogens like Agroathelia rolfsii, they pose environmental risks and can lead to the development of resistant pathogen strains. This study evaluates the antagonistic efficacy of five Trichoderma isolates (Trichoderma viride 1, Trichoderma viride 2, Trichoderma asperellum I, Trichoderma asperellum 2, and Trichoderma harzianum) against a target pathogen A. rolfsii using dual culture technique on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates. The research was conducted at the Regional Agriculture Research and Development Centre (RARDC), Kilinochchi, and arranged in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Inhibition percentages were recorded at 24, 48,72, and 96 hours. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences among treatments and over time. T. harzianun showed the highest inhibition at all-time points, reachingT9Yo at 96 hours, significantly higher than the other isolates. This study underscores the potential of T. harzianum as an effective biocontrol agent, suggesting its practical application in agriculture to reduce dependency on chemical pesticides. The methodologies for pathogen isolation, PDA media preparation, and re-inoculation of Trichoderma are detailed to ensure reproducibility. This research contributes to the field ofbiological control and highlights the importance of Trichoderma in sustainable agricultural practices.