AUTHOR=Olowe Olumayowa Mary , Nicola Lidia , Asemoloye Micheal Dare , Akanmu Akinlolu Olalekan , Sobowale Ayodele Adegboyega , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti 

TITLE=Characterization and antagonistic potentials of selected rhizosphere Trichoderma species against some Fusarium species

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.985874

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.985874

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Trichoderma</italic> fungi have been proved as efficient bioagents with great antifungal properties while many species in the plant’s rhizospheres have been characterized as plant growth-promoting agents. However, many rhizosphere <italic>Trichoderma</italic> are yet to be fully explored for plant disease management. In this study, <italic>Trichoderma</italic> species were isolated from the rhizosphere of maize, banana, and cassava, and their biocontrol potentials were screened against some <italic>Fusarium</italic> species from oak leaves (F2B and F3) and laboratory cultures (Fus 296 and Fus 294). The isolated rhizosphere <italic>Trichoderma</italic> were identified as <italic>Trichoderma virens</italic> 1 (TCIV), <italic>T. virens</italic> 2 (TCVII), <italic>T. virens</italic> 3 (TMSI), <italic>T. hazianum</italic> strain 1 (TCVI), <italic>T. harzianum</italic> strain 2 (TCVIII), <italic>T. erinaceum</italic> (TMZI), and <italic>T. koningiopsis</italic> (TMZII). The dual culture experiment recorded the highest percentage inhibition in TMZII against OakF2B (31.17%), TCVIII against Fus 294 (45.18%), TMZI against Fus 296 (47.37%), while TCIV was most effective against Oak F3 (44.15%). Among the <italic>Trichoderma</italic> culture filtrates evaluated, TCIV showed the highest percentage inhibition against Oak F3 (52.39%), Oak F2B (48.54%), Fus 294 (46.65%), and Fus 296 (44.48%). All the <italic>Trichoderma</italic> isolates demonstrated expressed varying levels of antagonism against the <italic>Fusarium</italic> pathogens <italic>in vitro.</italic></p>