Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XVII
Written by Iulia RAUT, Mariana CONSTANTIN, Gelu VASILESCU, Melania Liliana ARSENE, Luiza JECU, Tatiana SESAN
Pathogens cause world-wide economically significant diseases in numerous agricultural, horticultural and ornamental crops. Most of the pathogens are difficult to control by conventional fungicides. Biocontrol represents an economical,environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for diseases produced by phytopathogens. Trichoderma strains have received particular attention as biocontrol agent of fungal plant pathogens. The present work is focused on the optimization of growth and sporulation of antagonistic Trichoderma T36. Assessment of microbial cultures was done by measuring the fungal colony growth on solid medium. Likewise, visual and microscopically observations were performed. Trichoderma T36 was cultured on different nutrient media and M1 medium, a Czapek-Dox medium supplemented with sodium phosphate, ammonium chloride and malt extract, was selected for further experiments. A wide range of carbon sources has been tested replacing initial source in M1 medium. The best results were obtained in media with fructose as carbon source. As expected, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate was found to be the best nitrogen source for Trichoderma T36 cultivated on M1 medium and colony diameter decreases in the following order:NH4H2PO4<NH4Cl<NH4NO3=NaNO3<KNO2<KNO3=NaNO2<urea. Fungal growth was excellent at temperatures of 26 - 37°C and pH range of4.0 – 5.5.
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biocontrol
