Vol. 8, Special Issue 7, Part A (2024)

Abstract: The current research work was designed to evaluate, test and characterize effective antifungal extracts from Trichoderma asperellum strains against chickpea wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri. For extraction of secondary metabolites from mycelium and culture filtrate of Trichoderma asperellum strains organic solvents methanol and ethyl acetate were used respectively. In vitro antagonistic bioassay was carried to determine the antifungal potentiality of Trichoderma asperellum strains derived culture filtrate against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri. TaMu5 culture filtrate @ 25%(v/v) produced maximum antagonistic activity (51.36±1.44%) among other strains and TaWT. Moreover, antifungal assay of Trichoderma asperellum strains mycelial methanolic extract and culture filtrate oriented ethyl acetate extract shows highest inhibition zone in TaMu2 and TaMu5 respectively. TaMu2 mycelial methanolic extract produced maximum zone of inhibition 20.99±0.33 (modified wel diffusion assay) and 18.44±0.50 mm (modified wel diffusion assay). While, TaMu5 culture filtrate ethyl acetate extract shows highest zone of inhibition in modified wel diffusion assay (27.44±1.16 mm) and modified wel diffusion assay (24.10±0.50 mm). In general, TLC was performed for compounds separation present in TaMu2 methanolic mycelial extract and TaMu5 ethyl acetate culture filtrate extract by adapting Hexane: ethyl acetate: methanol (15:5:1.5) and Hexane : ethyl acetate: water (24:15:3) solvent systems respectively.