Biocontrol using Trichoderma harzianum; A Critical Component of Integrated Striga Management

Series of laboratory, greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to study the effects of Trichoderma harzianum, bacterial strains, herbicide chlorsulfuron and nitrogen fertilizer (urea) on germination and parasitism of Striga hermonthica in sorghum. Results of laboratory experiments revealed that all concentrations of T. harzianum ethyl acetate extract significantly inhibited S. hermonthica germination using double discs technique and on soil as compared to water and ethyl acetate controls. The green house results showed that application of nitrogen followed by T. harzianum each alone or in combination reduced S. hermonthica incidence as compared to the control. Nitrogen significantly increased sorghum plant height as compared to the infested control. The combination of Nitrogen + T. harzianum significantly increased sorghum leaf area as compared to infested control. Field experiment results showed that the combination of Trichoderma fungi, bacterial strains, chlorsulfuron reduced Striga emergence as compared to the control. Among all treatments, the combinations of 2N + chlorsulfuron, 1N + chlorsulfuron, 2N + BMP + Azospirillumbrasiliense significantly decreased number of S. hermonthica as compared to control. The combination of 2N + chlorsulfuron, 1N + chlorsulfuron, 2N + BMP + Azospirillumbrasiliense significantly increase sorghum growth attributes.