Selection of consortia based on effective strains of Trichoderma fungi to create a biofungicide

As an agrarian country, Kazakhstan has sufficient resources to produce high quality organic products which are in demand in foreign markets and can be sold at higher price in comparison with inorganic analogue. The use of biological plant protection measures will improve the quality of produced organic products, as well as will positively effect on soil recovery. Fungi of the genus Trichoderma are effective antagonists of many fungal pathogens of crops and natural alternative of chemical fungicides, characterized by rapid growth on cheap nutrient media. Studies all over the world show that consortia consisting of several microbial species or strains are more effective as a biological plant protection measure than preparations comprising a single microbial species or strain. Thus, the possibility of cultivating three different Trichoderma strains without inhabiting the growth and development of each individual strain as part of a separate consortium was studied by the method of counter cultures. As a result of the studies performed, three most compatible consortia numbered 2, 3 and 4 were selected, without noticeable suppression of the growth of each strain. Studies have also shown abundant growth and sporulation of Trichoderma strains on organic nutrient media based on bran and oat flour, rather than on synthetic Czapek-Dox medium. The selected consortia will be used in further research to identify their antagonistic properties in relation to various pathogens of agricultural crops. Moreover, the most optimal conditions will be determined, providing many conidia with a long shelf life.