Antimicrobial activity of Trichoderma polysporum

Abstract

Antibiotics producing microorganisms found in nature are not only use full in medicinal purposes but are very useful in plant disease management, enzyme production, etc. Trichoderma sp. Is one of the most common genera of fungi in soils and other natural habitat consisting of organic matter. Trichoderma sp. was isolated from soil and characterized into 8 different isolates based on colony, vegetative and reproductive structures. Antifungal and antimicrobial activities of those activities of those isolates were studied against Pythium ultinum, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxyporium, Bacillus sp. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp. and Streptococcus sp. One of the isolates (Isolate No.5) showed marked effect on antimicrobial activity against Rhizoctonia solani, Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. and isolate was identified as Trichoderma polysporum. Further studied on fungal, bacterial, protozoan and nematode bioassay was done by using the crude extract of Trichoderma polysporum in methanol and distilled water. Antifungal compound was effective in methanol extract where as antibacterial compound was effective in water extract. The organism produced volatile and water soluble antibiotics and showed significant inhibition on the formation of sclerotia of Rhizoctonia solani. Antiprotozoan activity was also observed but there was no effect on the motility of nematode. The enzyme amylase which is widely used in the industries was also produced by this organism