Efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum (Rifaii) on inhibition of ascochyta blight disease of chickpea

Abstract

Trichoderma harzianum is a widely distributed soil fungus that antagonises numerous fungal phytopathogens. In this study, interactions between the T. harzianum isolates and Ascochyta rabiei in experiments on agar growth medium were studied. All tested T. harzianum isolates produced metabolite that inhibited growth of A. rabiei the agent of ascochyta blight disease of chickpea in culture. Isolates of T. harzianum produced chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase when grown in liquid cultures containing A. rabiei cell wall, laminarin and chitin as sole carbon sources. Levels higher of these enzymes were induced in T. harzianum T15 isolate.