Characterisation of Trichoderma spp. for antagonistic activity against charcoal root rot Macrophomina phaseolina from sugar beet

Abstract

Charcoal rot of sugar beet, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina in recent years has become a main concern for farmers in Serbia. Since control measures are mostly preventive with only partial effect, introduction of alternative measures, such as biological control based on augmentation of mycoparasites, represents the most promising approach. ITS region and tef gene sequence analysis of ten Trichoderma spp. isolates from sugar beet and soybean rhizosphere was done to confirm species identity. All isolates were confirmed to be Trichoderma harzianum.