Profiling and identification of antifungal compounds from Trichoderma virens, a potential biological control for Ganoderma Boninense

Abstract

Basal Stem Rot (BSR) Disease is a devastating disease in Oil palm that is caused by White Rot Fungus known as Ganoderma, of which Ganoderma Boninense is the most aggressive species (Wong et al., 2012) Sundram (2013) reported that G. Boninense can be controlled by Endophytic Trichoderma in vitro. The potential of Trichoderma in controlling various plant diseases have been reported with many aspects typical to Endophytic associations (Evans et al., 2003; Harman et al., 2004). Various mechanisms including competing for nutrients and space, Antibiosis and Mycroparasitism which determines Trichoderma species as potential biological control agent (BCA) (Harman et al., 2004). Trichoderma species are known to produce numerous organic compounds that adversely affect the growth of different fungi (Morath et al., 2012). Siderophores is one of the seconder metabolite released from Trichoderma is a chelating agent that takes up iron (Fe) from the environment (Mukherjee et al., 2012). This leads to an interest to explore the potential antifungal compounds from Endophytic Trichoderma which can effectively suppress the growth of G. Boninense. The study also contributes to the understanding of the antibiosis mechanism by the potential endophytic Trichoderrna on the suppression of G. Boninense.