Inhibitory Potentialities of Bio-control Agents on Cochliobolus heterostrophus Inciting Maydis Leaf Blight of Maize in Manipur

The antagonistic potentialities of seven species of native Trichoderma viz., T. atroviride, T. koningiopsis, T. ovalisporum, Hypocrea lixii, T. harzianum, T. asperellum and T. harzianum were evaluated in vitro against Cochliobolus heterostrophus causing maydis leaf blight of maize. The current study of dual culture assay, revealed the percentages of mycelial growth inhibition of C. heterostrophus by Hypocrea lixii, T. harzianum, T. atroviridae, T. koningiopsis, T. ovalisporum, T. asperellu and T. harzianum were 80.4%, 83.80%, 83.80%, 82.85%, 85.23%, 83.33% and 82.38% respectively. Each species significantly slowed the Cochliobolus heterostrophus pathogen's expansion. The findings indicate that C. heterostrophus, a common pathogen associated with maize leaf blight, is capable of being inhibited to a significant degree by all seven species of Trichoderma, using them as effective potential antagonists.