In Vitro Effectiveness of Several Trichoderma spp. Isolates in Inhibiting Fusarium spp. Causing Chili Wilt Disease

Abstract

Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important commodity, yet its productivity often declines due to wilt disease caused by Fusarium spp. fungi. The use of the antagonistic fungus Trichoderma spp. offers an environmentally friendly control alternative. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of several Trichoderma spp. isolates—derived from the root zones of bamboo, elephant grass, peanut, and chili—in inhibiting the growth of Fusarium spp., and to identify their antagonism mechanisms in vitro. A single-factor completely randomized design was employed using the dual culture method on Potato Dextrose Agar medium. The results showed that all Trichoderma spp. isolates were capable of inhibiting Fusarium spp. growth, with no significant differences in inhibition percentages. The isolate from the chili root zone exhibited the highest inhibition rate (63.92%), followed by isolates from elephant grass (62.58%), bamboo (62.28%), and peanut (61.31%). The antagonism mechanisms demonstrated by the four isolates included competition, antibiosis, parasitism, and lysis.

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