Bioactivity of Trichoderma harzianum isolates against the fungal root rot pathogens with special reference to Macrophomina phaseolina causing dry root rot of mungbean

In the rice-fallow system, dry root rot (DRR) is an emerging disease of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek var. radiata) caused by the necrotrophic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. The pathogen causes extensive production losses. In this study, the bioactivity of four Trichoderma harzianum isolates, namely Th-Dharwad, Th-Raichur, Th-Niphm, and Th-Udaipur procured from the Indian research institutes were evaluated against M. phaseolina of mungbean by the dual culture technique. The efficacy of these T. harzianum isolates were also compared with the effective fungicides such as thiram and carbendazim by the poison food method. Results showed that among the T. harzianum isolates, isolate of Th-Raichur was most effective, exhibiting 76.96% mycelial growth inhibition of the test pathogen. As compared to the thiram, carbendazim was more effective, and exhibited 100% mycelial growth inhibition of the test pathogen. In addition, carbendazim was also more effective than the isolate of Th-Raichur. In the sick pot experiment, mungbean seeds treated with Th-Raichur isolate showed a lower percent incidence of DRR (20%) than the untreated seeds (86.6%). The biological spectrum of Th-Raichur isolate was examined against M. phaseolina isolated from the different hosts such as urdbean and vegetable soybean, alongwith two other root pathogens, namely Fusarium solani of mungbean, and Sclerotium rolfsii of urdbean. The isolate of Th-Raichur showed maximum antagonistic activity against the pathogens M. phaseolina and F. solani of mungbean. Thus, Th-Raichur isolate can be used as a potential fungal biocontrol agent for the reduction of DRR in mungbean. © 2020, The Author(s).