BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF RIGIDOPORUS MICROPORUS, THE CAUSE OF WHITE ROOT DISEASE IN RUBBER

Abstract

White root disease caused by Rigidoporus microporus is abundant in rubber plantations of Sri Lanka. Control of the disease by applying systemic fungicides is expensive, pollutes the environment and causes health hazards. Trichoderma isolates obtained from rubber growing areas were screened and found antagonistic against R. microporus. Research confirmed the ability of Trichoderma harzianum to control the pathogen in vitro. T. harzianum (T3) isolate produced a relatively higher number of phialospores. T3 isolate stored in T10 medium (T310) consisting of rice bran and farm manure preserved more than 50 % of T3 spores up to 4 months in dry form. T310 was antagonistic to the pathogen.