• Aishwarya Andhare
• Shinde R.S.
• Deshmukh A. J.

Aspergillus niger is a plant pathogen causing diseases in several plants including onion (Allium cepa L.). Onion black rot caused by A. niger is a very common disease in onion growing areas of Latur district, Maharashtra. Infected plant exhibits “seed rot, damping off and bulb black rot” in the infected fields. Seed, soil and infected plant debris act as a reservoir for the growth and survival of onion black rot pathogen. Many researchers have used Trichoderma sp.as a biocontrol agent against A.niger by minimizing the application of synthetic pesticides.The present investigation was carried out in an attempt to isolate various strains of Trichoderma spp. from collected soil samples of different locations of Latur district and to evaluate their potential asa bio control agent against A. niger. Accordingly, three T. Harzianum species viz., Th-1 (Murud), Th-2 (Renapur) and Th-3 (Savewadi) were isolated and identified through cultural and micro morphological studies from black rot infected soil habitats of onion crop. Seed treatment method is used in field study to evaluate potential ability of T. Harzianum isolates against black rot disease of onion. In field trial, Th-2 exhibited higher black rot disease control (60.68 %) followed by Th-1 (48.93 %) and Th-3 (42.74 %) over control. Moreover to this, seed treatment with a spore suspension of T. Harzianum significantly increased seed germination percentage, seedling growth and seedling vigor Index over control. Significant increase in per cent seed germination and seedling vigour index was obtained inTh-2 (GP= 25.46 % and SVI= 88.78%) followed by Th-1 (GP= 21.13% and SVI= 61.06%) and Th-3 (GP= 16.19 % and SVI= 49.39 %) over control. Thus, bio control agents such as T. harzianum can be easily isolated from soil habitats of onion crops and be used not only to control onion black rot disease but also to increase seed germination and seedling vigour.

Aspergillus niger, biocontrol agent, onion black rot, Trichoderma harzianum

"ISOLATION, IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF TRICHODERMA SPP. AS A BIOCONTROL AGENT AGAINST ONION BLACK ROT", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 1, page no.26-34, January-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1901605.pdf

"ISOLATION, IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF TRICHODERMA SPP. AS A BIOCONTROL AGENT AGAINST ONION BLACK ROT", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 1, page no. pp26-34, January-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1901605.pdf