Growth Suppression Of Some Common Post Harvest Rot Fungi By Culture Filtrates Of A Soil Isolate Of Trichoderma Viride

The antagonistic potential of culture filtrates of a soil isolate of T. viride was evaluated invitro, against three common post-harvest rot pathogens; A. niger, A. flavus, and F. oxysporum. Assay of three extracellular enzymes; chitinase, protease and cellulase, in respective enzyme-induced culture filtrates revealed the presence of enzyme activity. When 10% (v/v) concentration of the various lytic enzyme-induced culture filtrates were screened for antagonistic activity against three post-harvest rot fungi on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium, it was observed that, while the synergistic combination of all three enzyme-induced culture filtrates (chitinase, protease and cellulase) of T. viride gave the highest radial growth inhibitions, 77.69% and 67.89% of A. niger and A. flavus respectively, chitinase induced culture filtrates of T. viride gave the highest radial growth inhibition, 46.95% of F. oxysporum. The T. viride strain used in the study showed potent antagonistic activity and could be considered a potential biocontrol agent against A. niger, A. flavus, and F. oxysporum.