The biocontrol measures against pathogens are widely recognized as a step towards organic agriculture. In the present study, nine species of endophytic fungi and four plant pathogenic fungi were tested against antagonistic activity of a root endophyte, Trichoderma viride. Out of nine endophytic fungi, eight were inhibited. The inhibitory effect was maximum against Alternaria sp. and Pythium sp. The minimum zone was noticed against Nigrospora sp. after 14 days of incubation. It showed no inhibitory effect against an isolate of Aspergillus sp. and overgrew it after 9 days of incubation. T. viride showed antagonistic activity against all the four plant pathogenic fungi. The antagonistic zone was highest against Colletotrichum capsici and lowest was observed in Alternaria solani after 14 days of incubation. The study suggests the potential of an endophytic strain of fungus and it may be used in biocontrol programmes of plant diseases in the region.
Key words: Antagonistic activity, Trichoderma viride, endophytic fungi, plant pathogenic fungi
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