Synergistic effects of combinations of novel strains of Trichoderma species and Coscinium fenestratum extract in controlling rice dirty panicle

In this study, two promising novel strains of Trichoderma, T. harzianum KUFA 1051 and T. asperellum KUFA 1067, and Coscinium fenestratum crude extract were tested individually and in combination to control rice dirty panicle under greenhouse conditions. The in planta results showed that the combined use of the antagonists, Trichoderma spp. at 10⁶ spores mL⁻¹ and crude extract of C. fenestratum resulted in better disease reduction and increased rice yield. Treatments with combinations of both antagonists and C. fenestratum extract at 1% showed the greatest disease reduction, a significant reduction by 37.5% compared with the positive controls in rice cultivars, RD 57 and Hom Mali 105 which was higher than that of either of the individual agents alone. Both treatments also showed higher control than that of difenoconazole + propiconazole in rice cv. ‘Hom Mali 105’. The results of this study indicate that the combined use of Trichoderma harzianum KUFA 1051, T. asperellum KUFA 1067 and C. fenestratum crude extract displayed synergistic effects against dirty panicle of rice.