Trichoderma spp. isolates growth promotion activity on soybean seeds and their antagonistic effect on pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Abstract

Trichoderma species have been registered as species with important growth promotion potential as well as antagonistic effect on different pathogens such as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. minor, Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium, Alternaria, Leptosphaeria, Pythium, Phytophtora and Verticillium species. Trichoderma isolates tested in this research were isolated from different soil types from Vojvodina region (Serbia) and refined to single-spore isolates used for further research. Dual culture test was used for screening of Trichoderma isolates’ antagonistic effect on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in vitro. All isolates had high Radial Growth Inhibition factor (RGI) of pathogen (34.4 – 52.2%) and high colonization percentage (46.7 – 100%) as well. Because of their good antagonistic effect, possible growth promotion activity of Trichoderma isolates on soybean seeds were tested under glasshouse conditions. Soybean seeds were coated with suspensions of different Trichoderma isolates, while sterile distilled water was used as a control. Seed germination percentages and root and shoots length were measured and data were analyzed in Statistica using Duncan’s test. There were no significant effects on shoots length among all tested isolates comparing to control.