Degradation of plant pathogenic fungi by <i>Trichoderma harzianum</i>

Trichoderma harzianum excreted β-1, 3-glucanase and chitinase into the medium when grown on laminarin and chitin, respectively, or on cell walls of the pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii, as sole carbon source. Trichoderma harzianum also showed high activity of both enzymes when grown on homogenized S. rolfsii sclerotia. Glucanase activity increased by 67% when the fungus was grown on a mixture of laminarin and glucose (3:1, v/v). Similarly, high lytic activity was detected in wheat bran culture of the fungus and in soil inoculated with this culture. Protease and lipase activity were detected in the medium when the antagonist attacked mycelium of S. rolfsii.Isolates of T. harzianum were found to differ in the levels of hydrolytic enzymes produced when mycelium of S. rolfsii, Rhizoctonia solani, and Pythium aphanidermatum in soil was attacked. This phenomenon was correlated with the ability of each of the Trichoderma isolates to control the respective soilborne pathogens.