Annals of Microbiology (2014) 64, 1513-1522

Vishnu Sukumari Nath, Neetha Soma John, Indira Parameswaran Anjanadevi, Vinayaka Mahabaleswar Hegde, Muthulekshmi Lajapathy Jeeva, Raj Shekhar Misra and Syamala Swayamvaran Veena (2014)
Characterization of Trichoderma spp. antagonistic to Phytophthora colocasiae associated with leaf blight of taro
Annals of Microbiology 64 (4), 1513-1522
Abstract: Eighteen Trichoderma strains isolated from soils of different regions of India were analyzed for their biocontrol potential against the taro leaf blight pathogen Phytophthora colocasiae. The strains were characterized using a combination of phenotypic and molecular approaches, viz., in vitro antagonism, extracellular enzyme production, ITS and tef1 gene sequencing and AFLP analysis. Eight isolates exhibited more than 75 % inhibition of the pathogen P. colocasiae. Differential antagonistic activity was evident for different strains. Assay of lytic enzyme production suggested the role of glucanase in mycoparasitism of P. colocasiae. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the Trichoderma strains showed that isolates belong to three species: Trichoderma asperellum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Trichoderma harzianum. AFLP analysis revealed profound genetic diversity among the isolates. The most potent strain overall (TR7) identified as T. harzianum was able to control P. colocasiae in vivo also. This isolate could be used as a promising candidate for biological control of taro leaf blight disease.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Vinayaka Mahabaleswar Hegde, Muthulekshmi Lajapathy Jeeva, Raj Shekhar Misra

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phytophthora colocasiae	Taro (Colocasia)	India
Trichoderma harzianum (antagonist)	Phytophthora colocasiae	Taro (Colocasia)	India