Fungal Pesticides

Fungal Pesticides

	Fungal Pesticides Insect mycoses are caused by Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes, e.g. Beauvaria, Metarrhizium, Entomophthora, Hirsutella. Biological Control Agents Trichoderma is a cosmopolitan biological control agent which is a saprophyte. It has rapid growth rate. It sporulates abundantly. It produces antibiotics (gliotoxin and viridian). It is a well known antagonist.
Commercial product BINABTSEEPIC can be easily applied in soil in the form of granules for control of soil-borne diseases. Some examples of fungal agents Trichoderma harzianum is successfully used as a bio-control agent for diseases caused by Rhizoctonia solanii on beans and tomato. T. harzianum is the most active antagonistic agent in the case of Fusarium species. Control of Airborne Diseases Botrytis cinerea was controlled when treated with Trichoderma species on the senescent (aged) floral parts. Their colonisation prevented the saprophytic establishment of B. cinerea on the vine (hyperparasitism).
Their establishment on the floral parts limit the development of disease on the branches. Spore suspension of Trichoderma sp decrease the number of rust pustules caused by Puccinia. Seed-borne diseases T. harzianum and T. koningii when applied to pea seeds resulted in reduction in the incidence of pre-emergence of damping off of the pea.
Fruit diseases Botrytis rot of strawberry was controlled with Trichoderma. Anthracnose by Colletotrichum was also effectively controlled by Trichoderma sp. Mechanism of Control Antibiotics may playa crucial role in microbial antagonism. Lytic enzymes like chitinase and B -1-3, glucanase also help in controlling the diseases. Mode of Application Mycelial preparation of T. harzianum is more effective in comparison to spore preparation of biological control caused by Sclerotinia spp. Wheat bran/ peat is colonised by Trichoderma sp.
	A liquid medium is used to inoculate the bran/ corn meal along with other nutrient ingredients like glucose, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate and soybean meal. Semi-solid fermentation is preferable for most of the fungi. Since the dry conidia bran mixture is relatively stable. Embedding propagules of the biocontrol agents in a matrix formed by sodium alginate (binder) and clay appear to be an effective method of delivery of T. viridae.

It can also be applied as a seed coating with various adhesives/ gels. Some commercial products available are ANTAGON, BIOCURE-F, BIODERMA, TRICHOCAN, etc. Those commercial formulations can be introduced into organic manures, composts, dry cow dung, farmyard manure, neem cake etc.

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