Effect of Trichoderma harzianum BI on chitinase and glucanase activity in tomato roots infected with Meloidogyne javanica and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

Effect of the fungus Trichoderma harzianum BI on stimulation of induced systemic resistance in tomato seedling, cv. Early Urbana, based on activity of chitinase and glucanase enzymes in root was measured. Roots of seedling were inoculated by Trichoderma harzianum and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici fungi and second stage juveniles of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, by method of soil drenching. Changes of chitinase and glucanase enzymes in roots were daily measured by spectrophotometer from the first day of inoculation up to seven days. The results of this enzymes level in plants inoculated with nematode alone, plants inoculated with Fusarium alone and in simultaneous inoculation of nematode and Fusarium, as compared to the application T. harzianum BI before inoculation with nematode and Fusarium, indicate that T. harzianum BI significantly increased chitinase enzyme activity. While glucanase enzyme activity did not increase as a result of antagonist fungus.