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Characterization of Trichoderma spp. antagonistic to Phytophthora colocasiae associated with leaf blight of taro

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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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Acknowledgments

The funding provided for conducting the research work by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, under IISR outreach programme is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are due to Mr. Ragesh, Ph.D scholar, CTCRI for his assistance in statistical analysis. The authors wish to thank the editor and the reviewer for their valuable comments in improving the manuscript.

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  1. Vinayaka Mahabaleswar Hegde

    Present address: Division of Crop Protection, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod 671124, Kerala, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Crop Protection, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, 695017, Kerala, India

    Vishnu Sukumari Nath, Neetha Soma John, Indira Parameswaran Anjanadevi, Vinayaka Mahabaleswar Hegde, Muthulekshmi Lajapathy Jeeva & Syamala Swayamvaran Veena

  2. Regional Centre of CTCRI, Dumduma HBC P.O, Bhubaneswar, 751 019, Odisha, India

    Raj Shekhar Misra

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Correspondence to Vinayaka Mahabaleswar Hegde.

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Nath, V.S., John, N.S., Anjanadevi, I.P. et al. Characterization of Trichoderma spp. antagonistic to Phytophthora colocasiae associated with leaf blight of taro. Ann Microbiol 64, 1513–1522 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-013-0794-7

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