Antifungal activities of Trichoderma viride and two fungicides in controlling diseases caused by Sclerotium rolfsii on tomato plants

Fungal phytopathogens are among the biotic factors that cause serious losses to agricultural crops. The present investigation was aimed at determining the antagonistic effects of three isolates of Trichoderma viride as well as two fungicides against Sclerotium rolfsii causal agent of southern blight of tomato. Also, the efficacy of biocontrol of T. viride on the pathogenicity of Sclerotium rolfsii on tomato plant was compared with the influence of chemical control using fungicide (mancozeb) in this study. Sterile soil sample treated under different conditions were packed inside thirty polyethylene pots and two tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) seedlings were planted on them. This experimental set up was carried out in a completely randomized design with three replications. Plant height and plant leaves were recorded at interval of ten days for thirty days of growth while fresh weight of plant and root, dry weight of the plant were recorded after thirty days of growth. The antagonistic activities of the three isolates of T. viride were more pronounced at 37oC and pH 4. Trichoderma viride obtained from ginger soil proved very effective in controlling the growth of S. rolfsii but combination of T. viride and mancozeb could be detrimental to tomato plant