Evaluation of substrates for multiplication of bio-agent, Trichoderma viride

An experiment was conducted using locally available substrates to mass multiply Trichoderma viride on different substrates. Experiment was conducted during June to August for 2 years (2011 and 2012). Result revealed that sporulation was observed after 5 days of incubation in cowdung, followed by all other substrates after 7 days of incubation. Maximum sporulation (51.50 × 108 cfu g-1) was observed in cowdung on 15th day, which is followed by rice bran, talc powder, rice straw, banana leaf, arecanut leaf, coconut leaf, neem cake and vermicompost with 48.12 × 108, 44.5 × 108, 39.00 × 108, 29.00 × 108, 21.4 × 108, 18.2 × 108, 15.5 × 108 and 10.45 × 108 cfu g-1, respectively. Nevertheless, up to 90 days of observation, significantly superior growth (39.1 × 108 cfu g-1) was noticed on cowdung in comparison to other substrates.   Key words: Trichoderma viride, substrates, mass multiplication.