CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Trichoderma a fungus belonging to the division Ascomycota (Imperfecti fungi) and to the family Hypocreales. They occur worldwide and are commonly associated with roots, soil and plant debris (Howell et al., 2003). They could survive on other host such as rotten tomatoes and cultures of sawdust when the environment is favourable (Apabalza et al., 2000).
They live in symbiotic relationship such as competitions, antibiosis and mycoparatism. Trichoderma species have a complex mycoparatism process where they secrete cell-wall degrading enzymes (Whipps, 2011). In the cell wall chitin which a polymer include endochitin, chitinolytic which degrade the cell wall and metabolism of organism (Goku et al., 2000).
Trichoderma is an important phytopathogen antagonist against some soil fungi and plant parasitic organism (nematodes). Different strains have being developed such as TH 36, TH16 and has been proved to be effective antagonist of conidia of Colletotrichum musae (banana rot) and Rhizoctonia solani causal organism of seedling wilt in many plant (Apabalza et al., 2000; Kerry, 2000 and Myer, 2001).
The use of bactericide and fungicides (e.g. Aldrex T) and use of chemical fertilizer in crop protection have being in use over the years; recently this form of crop protection are being discouraged due to its implication on the environment (Chanidallan and Eliot, 2009).
The use of biological control has been on the rise and emphasis are being placed on it due to the fact that it is environmentally friendly (Whipps, 2001).
Trichoderma has been found to produce and provide better protection for crops such as cowpea by colonizing the plant root (Adekunle et al., 2004) and effective in suppression of pathogens by competing for space, nutrients and secretion of diffusible antibiotics (Howell, 2003).
Trichoderma has been used as fungicide against foliar disease of crops and its effectiveness against damping off. As biocontrol they act indirectly or directly through their mechanism help improve environmental conditions, plant growth and induce systemic resistant. (Benitez, 2004).
Test conducted using various species of Trichoderma has shown them to be effective in seed treatment; Trichoderma konigii, Trichoderma harziaum and Trichoderma virivde used to treat seedling against soil borne disease like Marcophonmia phaseolina (Adeknule et al., 2000). Good and improved the resistance of tomatoes to Meloidogyne incognita when cultured in 1.5% tomatoes extracts (Dabbat AA et al., 2006).
The production of Trichoderma for use in the field would require fast growth resulting in large biomass. Availability of cheap substrate and energy source is of importance.
The objective of this study is to determine:
The suitability of selected agro allied waste as carrier for Trichoderma harzianum
The rate of colonization and sporulation in selected agro allied waste.
The effect of soil amendment on growth and yield of a selected vegetable - Celosia argentea