Antagonistic Activity of Trichoderma parareesei and Trichoderma harzianum against Colletotrichum sp., a Causal Pathogen for Anthracnose Disease in Chilli.

Chilli is an important vegetable crop in worldwide as for culinary substrate due to its nutritional, medical and economic value, while anthracnose disease caused by fungal pathogen Colletotrichum species that become major constraint for chilli production. Disease control by chemical and cultural practices is still not effective where chemical usage is not eco-friendly. Using biocontrol agent is an alternative optional that eco- friendly and more compatible. Thus, this study was aimed to isolate and identify the fungal pathogen of Colletotrichum sp. from infected chilli as well as control the pathogen by control agent of Trichoderma species which were T. parareesei and T. harzianum. The identification of Colletotrichum result showed that at the early stage of fungus growth, colour appear as white to greyish colour and then the colonies was
bright orange conidial masses at late stage while for microscopic study found cylindrical-like conidia with ovoid, clavate and slightly irregular appressoria appeared which similar with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Hence, based on morphological and anatomical studies the isolated fungus has been identified as C. gloeosporioides. Antagonistic results shown that both strains of Trichoderma sp. were successfully
inhibited the growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides by the basis of Percentage Inhibition Radial Growth (PIRG) analysis. The range values obtained from analysis were between 56.25% until 75%. Among these two strains of Trichoderma sp, T. harzianum showed the higher value of Percentage Inhibition Radial Growth (PIRG) which was 75% while T. parareesei shared the antagonistic activity which was 68.75%. In conclusion, the antagonistic results determined that both species of Trichoderma had important role to be used as a very potential biocontrol agent against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides for anthracnose disease in chilli.