In vitro study on bio-efficacy, fungicide tolerance and shelf life of local isolate of Trichoderma viride

Abstract

An indigenous isolate of T. viride was developed at the Tea Research Association, North Bengal Regional Research & Development Centre and its bio-efficacy was assessed in vitro against F. solani, which incites the die back disease of tea and causes huge crop loss by directly affecting pluckable shoots. This isolate exhibited 26 to 59 per cent control of the pathogen in dual culturemethod. The fungicides, copper oxychloride, copper hydroxide and hexaconazole inhibited growth of the pathogen in the range of 74 to 91. Study on the shelf life revealed that the Trichoderma formulation could perform satisfactorily as long as conidial viability was retained but was adversely affected over a period of time.