Isolation, identification and mass multiplication of Trichoderma-an important bio-control agent

Abstract

Recently, the environmental contamination caused by excessive use of chemical pesticides increased the interests in integrated pest management, where chemical pesticides are substituted by bio-pesticides to control plant pests and plant diseases. Trichoderma candidum is a potential fungal bio-control agent against a range of plant pathogens. The major issue involved in mass production and utilization of biocontrol agent are selection of effective strains, development cost effective methods, for mass multiplication, effective methods for storage, shipment and its formulation. Present study deals with use of household waste, vegetable waste and other wastes and assessment for their suitability as substrates for mass multiplication Trichoderma candidum and develops effective production methodology which can be easily adopted.