Engin Kinaci

Biological efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum isolate to control some fungal pathogens of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Turkey

Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, Fusarium culmorum and F. moniliforme are highly important and widespread pathogens of wheat in Turkey. Trichoderma isolates have been used as biocontrol agents to protect plants against soilborne diseases in several crops. The present work was carried out to evaluate the potential of Trichoderma harzianum isolate T1 as biocontrol agents for G. graminis, F. culmorum and F. moniliforme under field conditions in 2001 and 2002. Quantitative differences were found in microbial number in soil. T. harzianum T1 had considerable effect on population densities of the tested pathogens. The total number of G. graminis, F. culmorum and F. moniliforme were lower in the T. harzianum T1 application made to seed. T. harzianum T1 application to seed had increasing affect on the yield components of wheat through better control over pathogens. The greatest counts of T. harzianum T1 were detected on root segments. Seed application by T. harzianum T1 had increasing effect on yield components of wheat.

Determination of the growth and solubilization capabilities of Trichoderma harzianum T1

The growth capability of Trichoderma harzianum Rifaii Tl was tested on Malt Extract and Czapeks Dox agar containing different concentrations of Cu2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Fe2+ and Ca2+. The T. harzianum Tl isolate was observed to produce mycelia and spores in various mineral-containing media. It showed the lowest tolerance to Ca2+ and the highest tolerance to Fe2+. Solubilization capability of T. harzianum Tl for some insoluble minerals via acidification of medium has been tested on MnO2, CuO, Fe2O3 and metallic Zn. T. harzianum Tl was able to solubilize MnO2 and metallic Zn in a liquid medium.

Efficacy ofTrichoderma harzianum (Rifaii) on inhibition of ascochyta blight disease of chickpea

Trichoderma harzianum is a widely distributed soil fungus that antagonies numerous fungal phytopathogens. In this study, interactions between theT. harzianum isolates andAscochyta rabiei in experiments on agar growth medium were studied. All testedT. harzianum isolates produced metabolite that inhibited growth ofA. rabiei the agent of ascochyta blight disease of chickpea in culture. Isolates ofT. harzianum produced chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase when grown in liquid cultures containingA. rabiel cell wall, laminarin and chitin as sole carbon sources. Levels higher of these enzymes were induced inT. harzianum T15 isolate.