Control of plant diseases and enhancing plant growth using a combination of a trichoderma virens species and a rhizosphere competent trichoderma harzianum species

Abstract

The combination of a Trichoderma virens species and a rhizosphere competent Trichoderma harzianum species is used to control plant diseases and enhance plant growth.

1 . A biocontrol composition comprising:
 a rhizosphere competent  Trichoderma harzianum  species and   a  Trichoderma virens  species.   
   
   
       2 . The biocontrol composition of  claim 1 , wherein the  Trichoderma harzianum  species is T22. 
   
   
       3 . The biocontrol composition of  claim 1 , wherein the  Trichoderma virens  species is G41. 
   
   
       4 . The biocontrol composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises a carrier. 
   
   
       5 . The biocontrol composition of  claim 4 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, slurries, granules, and powders. 
   
   
       6 . The biocontrol composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises additives selected from the group consisting of fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, nematicide, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       7 . A method of controlling plant diseases mediated by  Phytophthora, Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Thielaviopsis , and/or  Sclerotium  species, said method comprising:
 providing a rhizosphere competent  Trichoderma harzianum  species;   providing a  Trichoderma virens  species; and   applying the  Trichoderma harzianum  species and the  Trichoderma virens  species to plants under conditions effective to treat plant diseases mediated by  Phytophthora, Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotium , and/or  Thielaviopsis  species.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by a  Phytophthora  species selected from the group consisting of  Phytophthora cactorum, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora citrophthora, Phytophthora cryptogea, Phytophthora drecshsleri, Phytophthora infestans  and  Phytophthora nicotianae    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by a  Pythium  species selected from the group consisting of  Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium irregulare , and  Pythium ultimum.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by  Fusarium oxysporum.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by  Rhizoctonia solani.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by  Thielaviopsis basicola.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plant disease is mediated by  Sclerotium rolfsii.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of flowers, bedding plants, ornamentals, fruiting vegetables, hydroponic crops, leafy vegetables and cole crops, pome fruit, deciduous trees, grapes, citrus, pine, stone fruit, tree nuts, grains, and grasses. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said applying is carried out by broadcast application, liquid or dry in-furrow application, drenching of potted plant material, direct incorporation into soils or greenhouse planting mixes, granular formulations or granules, dust or planter box treatments, or direct seed treatment. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the rhizosphere competent  Trichoderma harzianum  species and the  Trichoderma virens  species are provided in the form of a biocontrol composition and said applying is carried out by applying the biocontrol composition. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises a carrier. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, slurries, granules, and powders. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, nematicide, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the  Trichoderma harzianum  species is T22. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein  Trichoderma virens  species is G41. 
   
   
       22 . A method of enhancing plant growth, said method comprising:
 providing a rhizosphere competent  Trichoderma harzianum  species;   providing a  Trichoderma virens  species; and   applying the rhizosphere competent  Trichoderma harzianum  species and the  Trichoderma virens  species to plants under conditions effective to enhance plant growth.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of flowers, bedding plants, ornamentals, fruiting vegetables, hydroponic crops, leafy vegetables and cole crops, pome fruit, deciduous trees, grapes, citrus, pine, stone fruit, tree nuts, grains, and grasses. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said applying is carried out by broadcast application, liquid or dry in-furrow application, drenching of potted plant material, direct incorporation into soils or greenhouse planting mixes, granular formulations or granules, dust or planter box treatments, or direct seed treatment. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the rhizosphere competent  Trichoderma harzianum  species and the  Trichoderma virens  species are provided in the form of a biocontrol composition and said applying is carried out by applying the biocontrol composition. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises a carrier. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, slurries, granules, and powders. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the biocontrol composition further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, nematicide, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the rhizosphere competent  Trichoderma harzianum  species is T22. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein  Trichoderma virens  species is G41.