Trichoderma viride, is a fungus, showing some benefits in use in the environment, and hence, it is also used as a bio-fungicide. Though it is a pathogen causing Green Mold Rot in Onion, it is used for various seed and oil treatment for suppression of various diseases caused by fungal pathogens.
They have evolved numerous mechanisms for both attack of other fungi and for enhancing plant and root growth such as: Mycoparasitism Antibiosis Competition for nutrients or space Tolerance to stress through enhanced root and plant development Solubilization and sequestration of inorganic nutrients Induced resistance Inactivation of the pathogen’s enzymes by secreting certain plant growth stimulating substance.
Uses
Used in Collar rot caused by Pellicularia rolfsii
Root rot caused by Pellicularis filamentosa
Dry rot caused by Macrophomina phaseoli
Loose smut caused by Ustilago segetum tritici
Karnal bunt diseases
Charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseoli
Black surf caused by Rhizoctonia solani
Seedling blight caused by Pythium
Damping off caused by Pythium sp. Phytophthora sp.
Foot rots of Pepper and betel vine.
Capsule rot of several crops.
Effective against silver leaf on plum, peach & nectarine
Dutch elm disease on elm's honey fungus (Armillaria mellea) on a range of tree species
Botrytis caused by Botrytis cinerea
Effective against rots on a wide range of crops, caused by fusarium, Rhizoctonia, and pythium, and sclerotium forming pathogens such as Sclerotinia & Sclerotium
Recommended Crops
Trichoderma viride is used in protecting crops such as cauliflower, cotton, tobacco, soybean, sugarcane, sugarbeet, eggplant, red gram, Bengal gram, banana, tomato, chillies, potato, citrus, onion, groundnut, peas, sunflower, brinjal, coffee, tea, ginger, turmeric, pepper, betel vine, cardamom.
Precautions & Compatibility Data
Precautions
Do not use chemical fungicide after application of Trichoderma viride for 4-5 days.
Compatibility
It is compatible with Organic manure. It can be applied to seeds treated with metalaxyl or thiram but not mercurials. It can be mixed with chemical fungicides as tank mix. It is compatible with biofertilizers like Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Bacillus Subtilis and Phosphobacteria.
The product is also available under the Trade name Tricopar-V produced by Exotic Naturals.
Trichoderma viride is also helpful in treatment of efffluents. The dyes and chemical industries have Malachite Green as one of the effluents, which is harmful for the aquatic life. However, with introduction of trichoderma viride, it was observed that the dye was consumed by the fungus and that the dye can be separated, thus helping in the treatment of effluents.