MICROSCOPIC INTERACTION BETWEEN TRICHODERMA ATROVIRIDE STRAIN TV3 AND PATHOGEN ALTERNARIA MALI

Abstract

Trichoderma spp. is well-known for their biocontrol efficacy against a variety of plant diseases. A particular isolate of Trichoderma spp. has the capacity to limit the growth of Alternaria mali , which causes Alternaria leaf spot of apple. In this study, the interaction between T. atroviride and mycelia of Alternaria mali was studied (microscopy 40X). Trichoderma spp. was isolated from the phyllosphere of an apple tree. Primers (ITS 1 and ITS 4) identified this putative bioagent as Trichoderma atroviride isolate TV3. Sequence were submitted to the NCBI and assigned the accession number 0L694002. A severe mycoparasitism was noticed in the form of coiling and firmly attaching, with the occasional production of appressoria-like structures. The biocontrol agent multiplied abundantly, forming a dense mycelium with some appressorium like structures that penetrated the mycelium of pathogen.