Application of Trichoderma hamatum as a biocontroller against tomato wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysparum F. lycopersici

ABSTRACT

The local isolate of Trichoderma hamatum had an antagonistic potential against Fusarium oxysporum f. lycopersici, the cause of tomato wilt disease. A maximum antagonism was obtained on Richard's medium at 30C and pH 6.0 in the presence of sucrose and ammonium nitrate as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the mycoparasite [biocide, T. hamatum] grew directly towards the hyphae of the phytopathogen, followed by the formation of a contact between their hyphae, followed by the disintegration of F. oxysporum f. Lycopersici hyphae in the region of contact. T. hamatum had an extracellular chitinolytic activity in the presence of the phytopathogen as evaluated by agar plate assay. The fungicide Bavistin, the herbicide Ronstar and the insecticide malathion had an inhibitory influence on the radial growth of the phytopathogen and the antagonistic potential of T. Hamatum against the phytopathogen