Trichoderma species are commonly used as biocontrol agents to manage various soilborne fungal and oomycete pathogens affecting crop plants. Various organic and inorganic carriers for mass production of Trichoderma intended for field application have been documented in the literature. In this study, Trichoderma asperellum strain SQU7, isolated from Omani soil, was screened for antagonistic activity against Pythium aphanidermatum, the causal agent of damping-off disease in cucumber. In addition, the possibility of using common reed (Phragmites australis) for mass production of T. asperellum was explored and its efficacy in controlling P. aphanidermatum-induced damping-off in cucumber was evaluated under controlled glasshouse conditions. The findings showed that T. asperellum provided a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of P. aphanidermatum in the confrontation assay and caused morphological abnormalities in the pathogen’s hyphae as determined by means of scanning electron microscopy analysis. Trichoderma asperellum proliferated well on common reed, and significantly suppressed P. aphanidermatum damping-off incidence in cucumber seedlings grown in pots. This study presents an efficient and affordable approach for the large scale production of T. asperellum, which can be utilised to effectively control damping-off of cucumber in an environmentally sustainable way.
Al-Kharusi A. I., Al-Sadi A. M., Al-Shuaibi B., Al-Mahmooli I. H., Al-Kindi M. A., Vela-Zhahan R. (2025): Mass production of Trichoderma asperellum SQU7 using Phragmites australis as a substrate carrier for managing damping-off disease in cucumber. – Czech Mycology 77(2): 109–120.
