Improvement of antagonistic capability of Trichoderma harzianum by UV-Irradiation for management of Macrophomina phaseolina

Abstract

Antagonistic capability of Trichoderma harzianum was improved through UV-irradiation. Four different type of mutants, T. harzianum - Ma (Th-Ma), T. harzianum - Mb(Th-Mb), T. harzianum - Mc (Th-Mc), T. harzianum - Md (Th-Md) of T. harzianum and the parent strain (Th-P) were selected for further studies. Th-Ma and Th-Mb showed more antagonistic capability against Macrophomina phaseolina than its parent strain Th-P in dual culture. Biochemical analysis of these four mutants and the parent strain showed that Th-Ma releases higher level of two lytic enzymes i.e. chitinases and cellulases and Th-Mb produces more β-1,3-glucanase activity than the parent strain. Culture filtrate of Th-Ma also showed antifungal properties. Study of the competitive saprophytic ability (CSA) of these four mutants and the parent strain were also made. Th-Ma exhibited higher CSA than the parental isolate while Th-Md had less CSA than all other mutants and the parent strain of T. harzianum. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.