CONTROL OF PLANT DISEASES AND ENHANCING PLANT GROWTH USING A COMBINATION OF A TRICHODERMA VIRENS SPECIES AND A RHIZOSPHERE COMPETENT TRICHODERMA HARZIANUM SPECIES
The combination of a Trichoderma virens species and a rhizosphere competent Trichoderma harzianum species is used to control plant diseases and enhance plant growth.
1 . A biocontrol composition comprising:
a rhizosphere competent Trichoderma harzianum species and
a Trichoderma virens species.
2 . The biocontrol composition of claim 1 , wherein the Trichoderma harzianum species is T22.
3 . The biocontrol composition of claim 1 , wherein the Trichoderma virens species is G41.
4 . The biocontrol composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises a carrier.
5 . The biocontrol composition of claim 4 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, slurries, granules, and powders.
6 . The biocontrol composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises additives selected from the group consisting of fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, nematicide, and mixtures thereof.
7 . A method of controlling plant diseases mediated by Phytophthora, Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Thielaviopsis , and/or Sclerotium species, said method comprising:
providing a rhizosphere competent Trichoderma harzianum species;
providing a Trichoderma virens species; and
applying the Trichoderma harzianum species and the Trichoderma virens species to plants under conditions effective to treat plant diseases mediated by Phytophthora, Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotium , and/or Thielaviopsis species.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by a Phytophthora species selected from the group consisting of Phytophthora cactorum, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora citrophthora, Phytophthora cryptogea, Phytophthora drecshsleri, Phytophthora infestans and Phytophthora nicotianae
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by a Pythium species selected from the group consisting of Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium irregulare , and Pythium ultimum.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by Fusarium oxysporum.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by Rhizoctonia solani.
12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by Thielaviopsis basicola.
13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by Sclerotium rolfsii.
14 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of flowers, bedding plants, ornamentals, fruiting vegetables, hydroponic crops, leafy vegetables and cole crops, pome fruit, deciduous trees, grapes, citrus, pine, stone fruit, tree nuts, grains, and grasses.
15 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said applying is carried out by broadcast application, liquid or dry in-furrow application, drenching of potted plant material, direct incorporation into soils or greenhouse planting mixes, granular formulations or granules, dust or planter box treatments, or direct seed treatment.
16 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the rhizosphere competent Trichoderma harzianum species and the Trichoderma virens species are provided in the form of a biocontrol composition and said applying is carried out by applying the biocontrol composition.
17 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises a carrier.
18 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, slurries, granules, and powders.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, nematicide, and mixtures thereof.
20 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the Trichoderma harzianum species is T22.
21 . The method of claim 7 , wherein Trichoderma virens species is G41.
22 . A method of enhancing plant growth, said method comprising:
providing a rhizosphere competent Trichoderma harzianum species;
providing a Trichoderma virens species; and
applying the rhizosphere competent Trichoderma harzianum species and the Trichoderma virens species to plants under conditions effective to enhance plant growth.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of flowers, bedding plants, ornamentals, fruiting vegetables, hydroponic crops, leafy vegetables and cole crops, pome fruit, deciduous trees, grapes, citrus, pine, stone fruit, tree nuts, grains, and grasses.
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein said applying is carried out by broadcast application, liquid or dry in-furrow application, drenching of potted plant material, direct incorporation into soils or greenhouse planting mixes, granular formulations or granules, dust or planter box treatments, or direct seed treatment.
25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the rhizosphere competent Trichoderma harzianum species and the Trichoderma virens species are provided in the form of a biocontrol composition and said applying is carried out by applying the biocontrol composition.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises a carrier.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, slurries, granules, and powders.
28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, nematicide, and mixtures thereof.
29 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the rhizosphere competent Trichoderma harzianum species is T22.
30 . The method of claim 22 , wherein Trichoderma virens species is G41.