Internal transcribed spacers (ITS) based identification of Trichoderma isolates and biocontrol activity against Macrophomina phaseolina, Aspergillus niger and Meloidogyne incognita

Ten Trichoderma isolates were isolated from different locations in Egypt. Amplification and sequencing of internal transcribed spacers (ITS) was employed to identify Trichoderma isolates that exhibited from 99 to 100% identity with three species of Trichoderma: Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma asperellum and Trichoderma longibrachiatum. The biocontrol activity of Trichoderma isolates against Macrophomina phaseolina, Aspergillus niger and Meloidogyne incognita was tested in vitro and under greenhouse conditions. The results show that the isolate Th2 (T. harzianum) gave the best antagonism against M. phaseolina and A. niger with inhibition rates of 72.85 and 64.28%, respectively. Moreover, the isolate Ta1 (T. asperellum) was the best efficient isolate in reduction of each second stage juveniles (J2), number of galls, egg masses and females per root system with 90.33, 90.59, 90.06 and 85.50%, respectively. Treatment with Trichoderma isolates improved tomato growth parameters (root length, plant height, roots and shoots fresh weight and shoots dry weight).   Key words: Trichoderma, internal transcribed spacers (ITS), antagonism, Macrophomina phaseolina, Aspergillus niger, Meloidogyne incognita.