Fungal species belonging to the genus Trichoderma
are worldwide in occurrence and easily isolated from the soil.
The potential of Trichoderma species as bioconrol agents against
various plant diseases has been reported by several workers [17,
18]. In the present investigation, fungal antagonist ANR-1 isolate
caused highly significant reduction in tomato wilt incidence under
in vitro and in vivo conditions. The inhibitory effect of these
bioagents against tested pathogen was probably due to competition
and/or antibiosis.
Demands for in vitro effectiveness of Trichoderma
against species of Fusarium have been reported [19]. The
antagonist Trichoderma harzianum, T. coningi and T. viride were
reported to be equally antagonistic to F. udum under in vitro [20].
[21] reported that Trichoderma spp. successfully controlled
Fusarium spp. on cotton, wheat and muskmelon. Sesame seeds
treated with three isolates of T. viride reduced the pre- and postemergence
damping off caused by R. solani and F. oxysporum f.
sp. sesami under pot culture and field conditions.
In the present investigation, the plant height and fruit
yield were also increased in ANR-1 treated plants. Similar results
on increased plant growth due to application of Trichoderma
gamsii in cereals and legume crops [22]. The increase in plant
growth might be associated with secretion of auxins, gibberellins
and cytokinins.
The increase in biomatter production may be due to the
production of plant growth promoters or through indirect
stimulation of nutrient uptake and by producing siderophore or
antibiotics to protect plants from deleterious rhizosphere
organisms. Therefore, the antagonist T. harzianum (ANR-1) is
chosen to be the most promising bio-control agent for F.
oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici. On the base of present study the
bioagents of fungi, might be exploited for sustainable disease
management programs to save environmental risk.