Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company Private Limited

TRICHODERMA – A POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT

Prevention is better than cure’ applies fully as far as plant diseases are concerned. In modern day agriculture, chemicals are extensively used to achieve effective pest and disease control. Chemicals thus used not only affect human and animal health but also disturb the biological balance existing in the ecosystem. Apart from the above problems, repeated use of chemicals induce resistance and eventually we will have to go for still more toxic chemicals to achieve effective control.

In recent times, biological control (use of living organisms to control pest and diseases) has emerged as a key principle as far as pest and diseases are concerned. Use of microorganisms to control disease is one aspect of biological control, which has very high potential. The three underlying principles involved in the use of microorganisms for biological control are, 1) antibiosis – production of toxic secondary metabolites, 2) hyper parasitism -

one organism growing on other and killing them, and 3) competition - effective utilization of nutrients available in the environment and preventing the growth of other organism (survival of the fittest).

At present, large number of microorganisms (both bacteria and fungi) are extensively used as biological control agents to combat plant diseases. Among the microorganisms, Trichoderma is the most commonly used one with very high potential. This is mainly because of its fast growing nature with all three basic underlying biological control principles (refer above paragraph).

Trichoderma is being widely used as biological control agent in various economically important plantation crops to combat dreaded fungal diseases. Use of Trichoderma as bio-control agent for some crops of our interest are given below:

S.No.	Crop	Disease
1	Black pepper	Quick wilt
2	Cabbage	Club rot / Brown spot
3	Cardamom	Damping off / capsule rot
4	Chillies	Die back
5	Cocoa	Witch’s broom
6	Coffee	Blight
7	Cotton	Root rot
8	Ginger	Rhizome rot / yellows
9	Oil seeds	Root rots
10	Potato	Blights
11	Pulses	Wilt / Root rot
12	Rice	Sheath blight
13	Rubber	Root diseases
14	Sugarcane	Rots
15	Tea	Root diseases / Cankers
16	Tomato	Damping off
17	Turmeric	Rhizome root
18	Vanilla	Foot root

Trichoderma works in all the three principles of antagonism and hence control of disease will be much superior. Trichoderma prepared using vermicompost as a carrier has many superior properties than that of the talc based products presently available in the market. Recent studies in the above aspects indicated that apart from its biological control properties, Trichoderma possess growth promoting properties also.

KDHP VermidermaTM is a an unique bio-formulation prepared with high quality Vermicompost prepared scientifically from spent tea leaves enriched with Trichoderma viride which is a proven non-pathogenic and ecofriendly microbe which can control many pathogen causing damping off, root rot, rhizome rot, stem rot and wilt in many crop species. It can be applied using the application method described to most food crops grown in green house, shade houses and agricultural fields. The presence of desired nutrients in the carrier material will enhance the multiplication and viability of Trichoderma and the number of Colony forming units (CFUs) will increase unlike other talc-based products.

KDHP VermidermaTM

Specifications of KDHP Vermiderma™
Sterilized Vermicompost (% w/w)	94.0
Trichoderma (% w/w)	1.0
Molasses (% w/w)	5.0
Colony Forming Units (g-1 DMC)	> 1 x 107

Nutritional status of KDHP Vermiderma™
pH (1 : 10) >	5.5
EC (1 : 10)	< 1.0
Organic matter (%)	> 30
Nitrogen (%)	>2.0
Phosphorus (%)	> 0.5
Potassium (%)	> 0.3
Calcium (%)	> 0.7
Magnesium (%)	> 0.3
Sulphur (%)	> 0.6
Zinc (ppm)	> 70
Manganese (ppm)	> 70
Iron (ppm)	> 1000
Copper (ppm)	> 40

Salient features of KDHP Vermi-derma™

KDHP VermidermaTM is an unique produce produced from vermicompost prepared scientifically from spent tea leaves.

It provides nutrients like N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Zn to the plants directly when applied in appropriate quantities.

It also contains several enzymes & growth promoting substances, which will improve growth of the plants.

The presence of nutrients and enzymes in vermicompost supports the growth of biological control agent Trichoderma and hence the colony forming units (CFUs) will be high under ideal conditions when compared to talc based formulations.

Trichoderma works in all the three principles of antagonism and hence disease control will be superior.

After application, it multiplies very fast in the soil and suppresses disease-causing organisms.

It may help in the reduction of nematodes also

Recommended crops KDHP Vermiderma™
Banana	Wilt and stem rot	Oil seeds	Root rot
Black pepper	Quick wilt	Potato	Blights
Cabbage	Club rot / Brown spot	Pulses	Wilt / Root rot
Cardamom	Damping off / Capsule rot	Rice	Sheath blight
Chillies	Die back	Rubber	Root disease
Cocoa	Witch’s broom	Sugarcane	Rots
Coconut	Root rot, wilt and stem bleeding	Tea	Root diseases / Canker
Coffee	Blight	Tomato	Damping off
Cotton	Root rot	Turmeric	Rhizome rot
Ginger	Rhizome rot	Vanilla	Foot rot
Grapes	Root rot and wilt

Method of application / storage

Soil : Take 1 kg of KDHP VermidermaTM and mix it with 50 kg of farm yard manure with 30 - 35 % moisture. Spread the mixture to a height of less than 6 inches under shade. Cover it with polythene sheet. Store the mixture for minimum 5 days. Apply by placement around the plants near the root zone.

Nursery / foliar : Mix 1 kg of KDHP VermidermaTM with 50 L of water and leave if for 1/2 h. Filter the solution using 750 mm filter. Drench the nursery bed / plants thoroughly. Do not use fungicide for minimum 5 days.

Seed treatment : Mix 1 kg KDHP VermidermaTM with 10 kg of seeds and store under cool conditions for 1 hour before sowing.

Rhizomes / seedlings / bulbs : Mix 1 kg of KDHP VermidermaTM with 50 L of water and immerse the planting material for 10 minutes before planting.

Compatability : KDHP VermidermaTM is compatible with other bio-formulations such as Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Azatobacter, Phosphobacteria etc. Do not apply fungicides and pesticides 5 days before or after the application of Trichoderma.

Storage : Store in cool dry and well-ventilated place away from foodstuff and animal feed.

Disposal of the packing material : The package material shall be treated and buried away from inhabitation. Do not reuse the material. Dispose off in a safe manner so as to prevent environmental and water pollution.

Precautions : Avoid skin contact and Inhalation. Do not eat, drink while handling Trichoderma. Keep away from Children, as it may cause indisposition if swallowed. If eyes are contaminated, flush with plenty of water. If swallowed, induce vomiting.

Antidote : Treat Symptomatically.

Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company Private Limited

www.kdhptea.com

KDHP House,Munnar.

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