Evaluation of Trichoderma isolates as potential biological control agent against soybean charcoal rot disease caused by Macrophomina phaseolina

ABSTRACT

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid remains the prevailing causal agent of charcoal rot disease that significantly suppresses the yield of a variety of oilseed crops. Its wide host range and ability to survive under arid conditions, coupled with the ineffective use of fungicides against it, have spurred scientific endeavours for alternative avenues to control this phytopathogen. Hence, the present study aimed to provide empirical evidence of the efficacy of three fungal isolates (T2, T10 and T12) of Trichoderma harzianum as biological control agents against charcoal rot in soybean (Glycine max L.). The results of the in vitro studies revealed that all three fungal isolates significantly inhibited the growth of M. phaseolina phytopathogen, with T12 showing considerably higher inhibition effect than T2 and T10 isolates. T12 inhibited the growth of M. phaseolina in the dual culture (72.31%) and volatile production (63.36%) assays, and the hyperparasitism test indicated cell lysis following the interactions with T12 mycelia. T12 isolate was mostly effective in field experiments, observable in the attained minimum plant disease indices both in the soil incorporation (11.98%) and seed inoculation (5.55%) treatments, in comparison to isolates T2 and T10. Moreover, the stem and root lengths, as well as the seed weight, were considerably increased, as compared to the control. Hence, the findings reported in the present study supported the applicability of T12 isolate as possible alternative to fungicides for the control of charcoal rot in soybean.

KEYWORDS:

• Biological control
• antagonist
• Trichoderma harzianum
• Macrophomina phaseolina
• soybean

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Acknowledgments

The Agricultural and Resource Research Center of Mazandaran (Iran) is acknowledged for providing the soybean seeds, antagonistic fungus, T. harzianum and for the technical support during this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partially supported by the Research University Grant Scheme from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia [grant number GUP Q.J130000.2526.09H85].