Biocontrol potential of three novel Trichoderma strains: isolation, evaluation and formulation.

We have isolated three novel strains of Trichoderma (two T. harzianum and one T. atroviride) from wild mushroom and tree bark, and evaluated their biocontrol potential against Sclerotium delphinii infecting cultivated cotton seedlings. T. harzianum strain CICR-G, isolated as a natural mycoparasite on a tree-pathogenic Ganoderma sp. exhibited the highest disease suppression ability. This isolate was formulated into a talcum-based product and evaluated against the pathogen in non-sterile soil. This isolate conidiated profusely under conditions that are non-conducive for conidiation by three other Trichoderma species tested, thus having an added advantage from commercial perspective.