Bio-control efficacy of Trichoderma against Strawberry charcoal rot disease

Abstract

Strawberry charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina classified as one of the most destructive diseases. The current work was conducted to screen the efficacy of eight different Trichoderma isolates against two isolates of M. phaseolina under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Dual culture technique results showed that the highest inhibitory rate of M. phaseolina isolates (M1 and M3) recorded with T. viride(2), whereas the least inhibitory effect recorded with T. harzianum under laboratory conditions. Greenhouse results showed that T. hamatum (1, 2) showed the highest percentage of survival plants infected with M. phaseolina isolates (1 and 3) while the lowest percentage of survival plants obtained with T. harzianum. Thus, Trichoderma can used for the control of strawberry charcoal rot as a biological control method and included in the organic production system.