CT are produced from composted organic matter by re-circulating water through loose compost bag brewed over or within a tank with the intention of maintaining aerobic conditions . Primary goal of CT production is to increase the microbial populations. This can be achieved by providing nutrient additives for the microbes at the beginning or during the brewing process . According to Ingham , the final balance between bacteria and fungi in CT can be predetermined by selecting an appropriate compost and fermentation nutrients.
A microbial starter was incorporated to enhance microbial proliferation of CT during the brewing process (Naidu et al. 2010). The dominant functional groups isolated from microbial-enriched CT were from the genera Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus), other bacteria species, actinomycetes, yeast, Trichoderma sp., Penicillium sp. and other fungi species. The most reported factor influencing the efficacy of CT’s in inhibiting the development of plant pathogen is their microbial composition (Kone´ et al. 2010). Previous studies have demonstrated that beneficial microorganisms present in foliar-delivered CT effectively control foliar pathogens. These beneficial microorgan isms compete with pathogens for infection sites