Biological control of southern blight disease of tomato caused by Sclerotium rolfsii with simplified mycelial formulations of Trichoderma koningii |
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Authors: | A O LATUNDE-DADA |
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Institution: | Department of Crop Production, College of Agricultural Sciences, Ogun State University, PMB 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria |
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Abstract: | Two simple formulations of an antagonistic strain of Trichoderma koningii were employed against southern blight disease caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in seedling, potted outdoor and field-grown tomatoes (cvs. Ife No. 1 and Ibadan Local). Corn cob germling inoculum and mycelium powder of T. koningii significantly controlled ( P ≤0·05) symptoms of damping off, blight and wilting in both tomato cultivars. The populations of the antagonist increased from an initial 1 × 104 to about 1 × 106 colony-forming units per g of soil in the protected plants. Moreover, sclerotial counts decreased significantly ( P ≤0·05) in these soils and those sclerotia found had been parasitized by T. koningii. Trichoderma -protected plants were more vigorous than those in the other treatment categories. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to the use of Trichoderma in appropriately simplified formulations. |
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