Preservation and long-term storage of Trichoderma spp. by sodium alginate encapsulation

Abstract

Trichoderma species have become popular as biocontrol agents and are being used to protect crops from many plant pathogens world over. The experiments carried out to preserve Trichoderma species in the form of sodium alginate encapsulated beads revealed that the conidial and mycelial stages in encapsulated form remained viable for more than six years at room temperature. Production of alginate encapsulated Trichoderma was relatively a simple procedure but found to be an efficient method for maintaining the pure culture and also for long-term preservation. The survival and conidiation from the encapsulated beads are very much comparable to freshly inoculated culture. The organism can be revived from encapsulated beads by inoculating onto either PDA or organic substrates like vermicompost. On revival, its bio-efficacy remained as in fresh culture, and on soil application the antagonistic potential was sheltered.