Antagonistic Potential of Native Trichoderma species against Tomato Fungal Pathogens in Yemen

摘要

The present study was conducted to determine the antagonistic potential of native Trichoderma species against tomato fungal pathogens in Yemen. A total of 200 rhizosphere soil samples of different crops (sorghum, corn and potato) were collected from different provinces in Yemen (Ibb, Sana'a, Taiz, Amran, Thamar and Al-Hodaida) and screened for the presence of Trichoderma species isolates and their antifungal activity against four pathogenic fungi (A. solani, F. oxysporum, P. ultimum and R. solani) using dual culture technique. Thirteen Trichoderma species were identified among a total of 96 Trichoderma isolates. T. harzianum (33.33%) was the most predominant species occurring in the present soil samples. Trichoderma species showed the ability to grow in the moisture content of the soil ranging from 12.28% to 23.49% and pH values ranging from 7.16 to 7.88. Results showed that antagonistic potential of Trichoderma isolates varied significantly which inhibited the growth of the pathogen isolates at varying degrees. Among the isolates of Trichoderma, only 16 isolates showed strong antagonistic activity and inhibited four pathogenic fungi by more than 50%. These potential isolates of Trichoderma may be further exploited as biocontrol agent against soilborne pathogenic fungi.