Enhancing the shelf life of Trichoderma species by adding antioxidants producing crops to various substrates

Trichoderma is one of the efficient biocontrol agents due to its high reproductive capacity, ability to survive under unfavorable conditions, efficiency in nutrient utilization, capacity to modify the rhizosphere, strong aggregativeness against the pathogenic fungi and efficiency in promoting plant growth and defense mechanisms. Therefore, the present investigation is carried out as an alternative practical and safe approach for mass multiplication of Trichoderma on different agro based media. Among them wheat straw and farmyard manure were found to be the best solid media supplemented with 10% wheat flour.The highest population count of Trichoderma species was observed in wheat straw. Antioxidant producing crops were also added to this carrier medium at a rate of 5g/kg in order to enhance the shelf life of propagules of Trichoderma species. Maximum population count wasobserved in soybean, maize and brown rice.