Trichoderma: Mass production, formulation, quality control, delivery and its scope in commercialization in India for the management of plant diseases

摘要

Popularization of biopesticides is very slow as compared to chemicals and only 2% biopesticides are available. Among the different biopesticides, Trichoderma is most exploited and have many success stories. Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma harzianum have curved a niche for themselves in India as important biocontrol agents for management of various diseases. A number of successful products based on different species of ?Trichoderma have been commercialized in India. The potential Trichoderma isolates are formulated using different organic and inorganic carriers either through solid or liquid fermentation technologies. They are delivered either through seed treatment, bio-priming, seedling dip, soil application, and foliar spray. Application of Trichoderma formulations with strain mixtures perform better than individual strains for the management of pest and diseases of crop plants, in addition to plant growth promotion. Commercialization of the bioproducts is primarily hindered due to the poor shelf life. Hence, research should be concentrated to increase the shelf life of the formulation by developing superior strains that support the increased shelf life, or the organic formulations that support the maximum shelf life with low level of contaminants must be standardized for making biocontrol as a commercial venture. Whatever the limitations these Trichoderma products may have, it can be addressed by enhancing biocontrol through manipulation of the environment, accurate strain identification by molecular approach, using mixtures of beneficial organisms, physiological and genetic enhancement of biocontrol mechanisms, and manipulation of formulations. Of late, many small and large entrepreneurs have entered into the commercial production of bio control agents resulting into the entry of various bio- control products into the world market.