Paper Title
Effectiveness of Trichoderma Erinaceum as an Antagonist against Fungal Phytopathogens

Abstract
Plant diseases caused by various phytopathogens including fungi and bacteria lead to great agricultural losses. Synthetic pesticides used for controlling the plant diseases cause air, water and soil pollution, having an adverse impact on human health. Biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma species are an eco-friendly alternative to harmful synthetic pesticides. The present study investigates the efficiency of the Trichoderma isolate identified as Trichodermaerinaceum as an antagonist against three phytopathogenic fungi belonging to Alternaria, Diaportheand Fusarium species. The two methods used for the evaluation of antagonistic activity of Trichoderma erinaceum were dual culture assay and culture filtrate assay. In dual culture assay, the Percentage Inhibition of Radial Growth (PIRG) of the pathogens were 67.97% for Alternaria species, 73.68% for Diaporthespecies and 66.63% for Fusarium species. The amended Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media containing 10% (v/v) and 30% (v/v) culture filtrate were used for culture filtrate assay. At a concentration of 10% (v/v) of culture filtrate, the maximum inhibition of mycelial growth shown was 42.68% against Diaporthe species. And when the concentration was increased to 30% (v/v), the maximum inhibition recorded was 53.35% against Diaporthe species. Thus, it can be concluded that Trichoderma erinaceumwas effective in inhibitingplant pathogenic fungi and haspotential to be used as a bio fungicide. Keywords - Biocontrol Agent, Trichoderma Erinaceum, Antagonist, Phytopathogenic Fungi