Investigation the biological effectiveness of trichoderma species against chikpea fusarum wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris)

Fusarum wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris) (Foc) disease is one of two important fungal diseases of chickpea, which ranks second among legumes in Turkey. In this study, 20 different Foc isolates were obtained from chickpea fields grown in Pınaroluk, Ziftlik and Emissili neighbourhood of Tarsus county of Mersin province. A total of 10 isolates (Foc5, Foc7, Foc8, Foc10, Foc11, Foc12, Foc14, Foc15, Foc19 and Foc20) causing wiltted plants and chlorosis necrosis on the leaves three different Trichoderma species (T. virens, T. atroviride and T. harzianum) (T1, T2 and T3) In vitro dual culture studies were performed. T. harzianum was the most effective antagonist strain against all Foc isolates in vitro dual culture tests. The effect of Trichoderma species on biomass increase was investigated in greenhouse studies by selecting the most virulent 3 Foc isolates (Foc8, Foc12 and Foc14) by pathogenicity test. The most effective antagonist in biomass increase was T. harzianum followed by T. atroviride and the least effective antagonist was T. virens.