Laila Naher
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Malaysia
Title: Opportunistic role of Trichoderma harzianum in sustainable crop protection
Biography
Biography: Laila Naher
Abstract
Statement of the Problems: Ganoderma boninense Pat caused basal stem rot (BSR) disease in oil palm and the disease resulted
in great losses in palm oil production. Another fungus Fusarium oxysporum cubense is the most versatile pathogen for wilt
disease in several plants while Fusarium wilt in banana has great impact for losses in commercial banana production.
Methodology: Both causal pathogens of G. boninense and F. oxysporum have been tested with Trichoderma harzianum to
determine the biocontrol mode of T. harzianum against the pathogens.
Findings: T. harzianum showed the biocontrol activity with the inhibition rate more than 60% against both G. boninense and F.
oxysporum. The mode of biocontrol activity as process of mycoparasitism action is also observed under the scanning electronic
microscope. The coiling of Trichoderma on the pathogens or shrinkage mycelium of the pathogen has proven Trichoderma’s
biocontrol ability. At molecular level only for studies on Ganoderma-oil palm or Ganoderma-oil palm- Trichoderma interactions
showed that Trichoderma induced chitinase genes or enzyme in oil palm leaves or roots tissues as well as plant growth was also
enhanced in the presence of Trichoderma.
Conclusion & Significance: The data from this study showed that T. harzianum successfully manage the interaction between
plant-pathogen and pathogen only as well as enhance the defence responses in plant which indicates Trichoderma has good
impact for sustainable crop protection.