Trichoderma viride: A natural biopesticide, biofungicide and water treatment agent.

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.

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Biopesticides: Challenges

The indiscriminate use and the negative impact of pesticides have made scientists to search for eco-friendly alternative for the management of pests for healthy and safer environment and to prevent the hazard to man and livestock. The essence of the global plant protection research of this era is to confront the twin challenges of urgent need to increase agricultural yields yet to conserve or improve the natural resources for the future.

This search has ended in economically viable and environmentally safer alternative, the biological control. This technology either standing alone or as a component of integrated pest management has attracted increasing interest, partly in order to reduce dependence upon pesticides. The success of biological control is influenced by the efficiency, virulence, compatibility and mass production of the bioagents. In turn, the success of mass production and marketing mainly depends on cost effectiveness and viability of the bioagents. In view of this, the mass production of the fungal and bacterial antagonist, Tirchoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorscens on various cheaper and easily available raw materials was done.

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How to remove Dandruff

Dandruff is the common skin problem that we face in our daily life. With dandruff your hairs loose their beauty and can even become a nightmare for you. Healthy hairs make you attractive while hairs with dandruff can spoil your personality. So be cautious about your looks and get rid of unwanted ‘flakes’ – get rid of dandruff.

Dandruff is also considered to be fungal infection of the scalp. This condition may recur, if not taken proper care. The normal shampoos contain just soaping and cleansing agents. However, there are many medicated shampoos, which do have Ketoconazole as the active ingredient and sodium lauryl sulphate as the emulsifier and some artificial foaming agents. Also note that all teh chemical compounds belonging to the class of Azoles have significant antifungal effects. However, these chemicals do have potential side-effects as well.

Hence, herbal products or natural product extracts or home remedies are considered to be better than the corresponding synthetic chemicals. The synthetic chemicals, though they are advertised to be safer and prepared from safer chemicals, they are still not safer even for topical applications as the research of these substances with the bodily functions and their interactions with food are not much established.

What are these dandruffs?
Dandruffs are nothing but flakes. In general, there are two types of dandruffs – dry and oily. White flakes and itching effects on the scalp is the result of dry dandruff. Oily dandruff, on the other hand, will make your hair sticky with yellow flakes. In worst case, a bad smell may come from your dandruff-affected hair.

There are several reasons behind the dandruff. These are: •
Poor diet
Excessive tension and stress
Infected scalp
Hormonal imbalances
Dry weatherPollution
Too much use of different hair cosmetics without proper guidance of a skin specialist or a beautician

It has been found that adults and adolescents are affected by dandruff more than children. This is due to the disturbance of androgen hormone and daily tension.

Get rid of dandruff
Using anti-dandruff shampoo while washing your hair is the easiest way to make your hair dandruff free. But regular use of shampoo, without taking the guidance of a hair/skin specialist can harm the original beauty of your hair. Therefore, if you are caught by dandruff, first go to a skin specialist to identify the root of the problem.

Proper diet takes a great role to remove dandruff. Taking more animal fat and unsaturated vegetable oils can harm your scalp. For that you may need to sacrifice some of your favorite dishes. Get a diet chart from a skin specialist and make sure you are not consuming chocolate, iodized salt, and nuts and foods, which are high in calories.

Balanced intake of Vitamin A, E and B Complex is important for long and healthy hair. Include green vegetables, chicken, fish and milk in your diet chart, and you will get these vitamins in proper quantity. Drink sufficient water, since it takes good care of your skin.

Dandruff is the dead cell of our scalp and this happens due to the disturbance of blood circulation in the scalp. Go for ‘Yoga’ therapy or massage, for it will help circulating blood in the scalp. It is also important to brush your hair gently - on a regular basis.

Researches have found that use of herbal shampoo on every other day is very effective to reduce oily dandruff. Like oily dandruff, dry dandruff also needs extensive care. To remove them massage your hair with the oil prescribed by the skin specialist. Move your fingertips gently on the scalp and leave for few minutes before washing your hair.

In this fast moving world it may not be possible get hair therapy in every week. Time is a big factor for busy people who are suffering form dandruff. Some cosmetic treatments, which can be done at home, can work like magic for them. Even others can also try these to make their hair attractive and dandruff free.

If you are suffering from oily flakes, rinse your hair with vinegar. For this, you have to follow some easy steps:•
Fill a mug with fresh water
Mix two tablespoons of malt Vinegar in it
Use shampoo in your hair that is prescribed by a skin specialist
Rinse your hair with Vinegar mixed water
Dry your hair with a clean towel

On the other hand, if you are suffering from dry and white flakes, use oil massage. Following are the steps to take oil massage:
Make a mixture of hot Castor oil (1 teaspoon), Coconut oil (1 teaspoon) and Mole oil (1 teaspoon)• Massage gently with the mixture on your scalp
Keep the hair for about 30 minutes
Wash your hair with a prescribed shampoo
Dry your hair with a clean towel.

You can also try this method of making your hair dandruff-free and lustrous,
Collect fine sand from the sea-shore.
Put it in a bucket of water.
Wash your hairs along with the water of the pure sand.
While scrubbing softly, the fine sand also helps in removing the dandruff.
Here, the chemicals that are involved in helping to remove dandruff are the inorganic chemicals in the fine sand.

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