Trichoderma-enriched Coco-Peat for the Management of Phytophthora and Fusarium Diseases of Chilli and Tomato in Nurseries

Abstract

Coconut coir dust, commercially available as coco-peat, is used in raising the seedlings of vegetable crops in tropical countries. Coir-pith and other derivates of coconut husk have been well recognized as substrates for the multiplication of Trichoderma spp. and commercial nurseries use coco-peat for raising the seedlings. In the present study, coco-peat enriched with Trichoderma harzianum was used for raising tomato and chilli seedlings to test the effect of the same on managing wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in tomato and damping off and root rot caused by Phytophthora capsici in chillies in nurseries. The enrichment with T. harzianum, resulted in reduced wilt incidence (5-7.5%) compared to control (38.75%) in tomato with increased plant growth parameters. Though germination was reduced compared to control (without pathogen), there was reduction in P. capsici infection in chillies by up to 50% compared to coco-peat without Trichoderma enrichment. The use of coco-peat enriched with T. harzianum can be adopted by commercial nurseries for better plant growth and reduced incidence of tomato wilt and chilli root rot while raising disease free and healthy seedlings.