Trichoderma spp. and Botanical Inputs in White Mold Disease Management of High Value Crops: An Overview
Biological Management of White Mold
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21921/jas.v13i03.15298Keywords:
Biological control, Essential oil, Mycoparasitism, Organic farming, Sclerotinia sclerotiorumAbstract
Organic farming presents a sustainable agricultural pathway for North East India; however, disease management, particularly against soil borne pathogens, remains a major constraint in absence of chemical fungicides. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, a destructive soil borne fungus causing white mold, incites substantial yield losses across diverse crops worldwide by persisting long term in soil as resilient sclerotia. For its sustainable management, Trichoderma species have emerged as highly effective biological control agents. They suppress pathogens through multifaceted mechanisms including direct mycoparasitism, antibiosis, competition for nutrients and space, sclerotial parasitism and induction of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) or induced systemic resistance (ISR) which depends on the Trichoderma spp. and plant interaction. Trichoderma spp. enhance plant growth through solubilization of essential nutrients such as phosphate, zinc, iron, manganese and production of growth promoting hormones. For optimal ecofriendly disease management, integration of Trichoderma spp. with compatible organic amendments and essential oils is highly promising. Compatibility of Trichoderma spp. with specific organic inputs such as neem cake and essential oils, which independently reduce disease incidence and improve soil fertility. A strategic approach of Trichoderma spp. with organic soil amendments and compatible botanicals offers a strong approach for managing complex soil borne diseases in organic agriculture.
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