Abstract:
Interest in biological control has increased recently fuelled by public concerns over
the use of chemicals in the environment in general. The key to achieving successful,
reproducible biological control is the gradual appreciation of the ecological
interactions taking place in soil and root environments that are required to predict
the conditions under which biocontrol can be achieved. Biological control is
attractive for soil-borne diseases because these pathogens are difficult to reach with
specific fungicides. Effect of Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma koningii were
compared with burning and chemical treatments. The experiment was carried over a
three month period with more susceptible vegetable species to damping-off. Tomato
{Lycopersicon esculentum), cabbage (Brassica oleracea) varieties were tested with
above treatments. The percentage of healthy plants of tomato with Trichoderma
viride, Trichoderma koningii, chemical and burning treatments were 77, 77, 77 and
74% respectively, while control showed 55%. Similar pattern could be observed in
cabbage nursery too. Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma koningii did not show
any significant different over chemical and burning treatments but were
significantly different over control. Therefore, Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma
koningii can be recommended as environmental friendly methods in controlling
damping off diseases in vegetable nurseries compared to chemical and burning
methods.
