Abstract

EFFECT OF TRICHODERMA HARZIANUM ON THE INHIBITION OF SOIL-BORNE FUNGAL PATHOGENS, GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.)

Felicia W. Nmom*, Chimankpa W. Worlu, Tabowei Onuosa Churchill and Chibuzor Njoku

ABSTRACT

Effects of Trichoderma harzianum on inhibition of some soil-borne fungal pathogens, growth and yield of Zea mays was carried out. Trichoderma harzianum was isolated from contaminated Pleurotus ostreatus at Dilomat Farms and Services Limited, Rivers State University. The treatment was at 10-3 spore/ml, 10-5 spore/ml and 10-7 spore/ml levels of concentration. Data on disease prevalence (incidence and severity) at 3 and 10 weeks after planting, inhibition of some soil-borne diseases at 3 and 10 weeks after planting, growth parameters for 6 weeks, and percentage yield increase at 11th week after planting were collected and subjected to Anova and Ducan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used for mean separation at 5% level of probability for disease prevalence and growth parameters. The soil-borne fungal isolates were Pythium spp., Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia spp. and Phytophthora spp. Results showed that T. harzianum exhibited significant effect on disease prevalence at 10WAP than 3WAP. The treatment also had the highest inhibitory impact on Fusarium spp. and Pythium spp. followed by Rhizoctonia spp. and Phytophthora spp. at 10WAP and 3WAP when compared untreated soil. There were significance differences in the stem height, leaf length and leaf area at the various weeks. From the result, 10-3 spores/ml T. harzianum had 49% yield increase while T. harzianum at 10-5 spores/ml had 31% yield increase and 10-5 spores/ml had 15% yield increase compared to the control that 5% yield increase at 11WAP.

Keywords: Soil-borne fungal pathogens, Trichoderma harzianum, disease prevalence, growth parameters and yield.