OOptimizations of industrial culture medium for mass production of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum K18 and its formulation for controlling of cucumber powdery mildew in greenhouse conditions

Document Type : Pest Management

Authors

1 1- Assistant Professor, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

2 2- Researcher, Plant Protection Research Department, Golestan Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Center, AREEO, Gorgan, Iran.

10.22092/jaep.2025.367975.1539

Abstract

Using agro-wastes is a good alternative for developing low-cost carriers for formulation of Trichoderma-based bio-products. Different carbon and nitrogen sources (rice bran, wheat bran, barley bran, Pith, Sugarcane pith, yeast extract, soybean extract, and urea) used for biomass production of T. harzianum K18 isolate. Out of 15 different substrates tested, the substrate containing wheat bran and yeast extract was the best substrate for T. harzianum k18 produced a high density of propagules (8.9 × 107 cfu/g) after 21 days. For the T. harzianum K18 formulation, some adjuvants (including glycerol and carboxymethyl cellulose) added to carriers (kaolin and perlite). At the end of six months of storage period, the kaolin-based formulation with 6.51 and 6.07 log/cfu propagules per gram showed the highest viability of T. harzianum k18 in formulations at 4˚ C and 24˚ C, respectively. The best formulations based on T. harzianum K18 viability at formulations selected for greenhouse studies. 24 hours later than plants spraying with the formulations, the plants incubated with the pathogen spores and after five, 10 and 20 days of incubation, the severity of the disease evaluated. The disease severity at treatment with T. harzianum k18 formulation was 45.42 %, less than the control. Finally, it seems there is a possibility of biological control of cucumber powdery mildew using the microbial formulations of T. harzianum K18.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Applied Entomology and Phytopathology
Volume 93, Issue 1 - Serial Number 120
September 2025
Pages 27-38

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