Upadhyay, J. P.Priya, Shweta2017-10-312017-10-312013http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810034153The present study was carried out to know the distribution of fungal flora with special reference to population of Trichoderma species in 5 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of Zone I of Bihar viz., Jale (Darbhanga), Saraiya (Muzaffarpur), Hariharpur (Vaishali), Birauli (Samastiur) and Madhopur (West Champaran). The fungal flora were isolated from the soil samples collected from cultivated field, orchard and vegetable plots of local farmers. The soil of cultivated plots of wheat (Triticum aestivum) field at KVK Jale had sandy loam while orchard’s soil had loamy sand texture. Soil pH of all samples was neutral to alkaline. Organic carbon ranged from 0.26 to 0.92 per cent. Higher fungal population (6 X 103 cfu/g soil) was recorded in soil of wheat field followed by orchard and brinjal (Solanum melongena) plot. Saprophytic fungus Aspergillus and Penicillium were observed in most of the soil samples. Trichoderma species were present in all the samples except in soils of lowland field of wheat. The soil texture of cultivated plots of wheat at KVK, Saraiya was silt clay loam whereas soil from brinjal’s plot of local farmer had silt loam texture. Soil pH was neutral to alkaline with higher organic carbon content (0.81 to 1.40 %). Maximum fungal population was recorded in soils of wheat plot 7 (14.6 X 103 cfu/g soil). Aspergillus was dominant in most of the soil samples. Lower population of Trichoderma was recorded in all the samples. Soil samples from KVK, Vaishali belonged to orchards of guava (Psidium guajava) and mango (Mangifera indica), mustard (Brassica compestris) field and cauliflower (Brassica olerecea) plot of local farmer. These soil samples showed wide range of pH (6.6 to 8.2) and organic carbon (0.24 to 0.71 %). Maximum fungal flora was isolated in soil of guava orchard and mustard field while it was minimum in cauliflower plot of local farmer (8.0 X 103 cfu/g soil). Penicillium species commonly observed in isolation. Maximum population of Trichoderma (5.3 X 103 cfu/g soil) was observed in soil of mustard field. Soil samples from the plot intercropped with turmeric(Curcuma longa), arvi (Colacasia esculenta), ginger (Zingiber officinale), sole crop of dhaincha (Sesbania bispinosa), litchi (Litchi chinensis) orchard and elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus campanulatus) plot had sandy loam to silt loam texture. The pH of all soil samples was near neutral to alkaline (7.9 to 8.1). Maximum fungal population was recorded in soil of litchi orchard (12.33 X 103 cfu/g soil). Trichoderma was recorded frequently in most of the soil samples. The species of Trichoderma viz., Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride were isolated from the soil samples of KVK, Birauli. Soil samples from plots of sugarcane (Saccharum officiniarum) K2 and B2 at KVK Madhopur had sandy loam texture, while soils of mango orchard and brinjal plot of farmer had clay loam texture. Soil pH of the samples was neutral to slightly alkaline and organic carbon content was very low (0.21 to 0.49 %). Maximum fungal population (13.0 X 103 cfu/g soil) was recorded in cultivated plots of sugarcane. Saprophytic fungus Penicillium dominated in most of the soil samples. Trichoderma harzianum was evaluated for its antagonistic potential against Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii causing banded leaf and sheath blight disease of maize. In dual culture, Trichoderma completely overgrew the colony of R. solani in 144 hours and completely inhibited the formation sclerotia. The mechanism of antagonism was hyphal coiling and penetration of the hyphae of Trichoderma in the hyphae of host fungus.enThesis