Fungal Allies: Embracing Trichoderma harzianum in the Fight Against Melon Fusarium Wilt

On the hills of Guatemala, California, Paul Hernandez has been growing an organic strawberry business for years that is alive and kicking. For several years Paul has only been focused on producing the largest strawberries organically, that is free from synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. But what the consultant and many other organic farmers are confronted with are constant pests and diseases that affect crops and income sources.

Several years back, Paul realized that powdery mildew infection had infested his fields for several seasons. This common fungal disease caused by Podosphaera aphanis mainly develops due to warm and humid conditions found throughout California strawberry producing areas.. The external appearance of the fruit was affected by white powdery screen like formation on the leaves and on the fruit which lowered its market value. It was a breach of my duty of care as an organic farmer that was committed to producing our food naturally, that’s why the use of conventional fusarium wilt control fungicides was not an option for Paul. He required a biocontrol option which would resolve the matter effectively and be conducive to ecological preservation.

Knowing more on Strawberry Powdery Mildew

Since powdery mildew develops as a powdery mass of mycelium on the epidermis of the strawberry foliage, both white or gray in colour, it is easy to diagnose. If not controlled, it causes a significant reduction in the rate of photosynthesis hence poor fruiting in the plant. Some conditions that nurture this disease are humidity and moderate amount of temperature when the plants are closely planted to hinder air circulation.

Several assumptions can be made from the study, firstly to the organic farmers, disease control as portrayed is a matter of prevention, early stages detection, and the management should embrace sustainable methods that are environmantal friendly.

Introducing new products: Trichoderma harzianum and Trianum Shield

First time when Paul came across Trichoderma harzianum, which belongs to the biofungicide Trianum Shield, he used it for fusarium wilt organic treatment. As much as Trianum Shield is a product from spectrum, it is not a chemical fungicide but a biocontrol agent that utilizes living organisms to control the plant diseases. It is done through inoculation of the soil or the plant with Trichoderma harzianum; a non-pathogenic fungus. This friendly fungus is able to propagate itself in the root area, subsequently acting superior to the damaging pathogenic organisms and enhancing the plant’s immune response.

The way that Trianum Shield works, is the heart of its use as a potent oncology treatment. Trichoderma harzianum outcompete the localized soil pathogens for affordance and resources, thereby depriving dangerous fungi such as Fusarium and Verticillium. This also synthesizes enzymes that cause breakdown of cell walls of pathogenic fungi to avoid anchoring themselves in the plant cells. But most importantly, Trianum Shield boosts the plant’s natural defense mechanism against disease through activating root growth and encouraging the absorption of nutrients.

Applying Trianum Shield to Combat Powdery Mildew

In order to start with it, Paul had an idea to test Trianum Shield on a limited part of his strawberry field. He used this product as a soil drench and as a foliar spray. The instructions for application were straightforward: add the recommended dosage of the fertilizer to water and then spray it on the soil around the plants and the plant leaves. Regarding powdery mildew, blanket application as a foliar spray was important since the fungal disease primarily attacks the leaves and stems.

The results were remarkable. After a few weeks, the level of powdery mildew was markedly reduced on plants which had been treated with the outlined procedures. Even in the treated area, not only did the strawberries begin to grow back, but they improved. It was visible that the plants got better through enhanced root systems and an improvement on the types of plants. This was observed to be true in the subsequent seasons where the yield of Paul increased, and the records of diseases were minimal.

Trianum Shield in combating Fusarium Wilt

As Paul used Trianum Shield to control the powdery mildew, many farmers in all over the world are using this biofungicide to control the another baleful disease- melon Fusarium wilt. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis, the pathogen causing Fusarium wilt in melons, is a soil borne fungus which can have severe effects on the yield.

Fusarium wilt on Melon plant becomes yellow, wilts and dies due to this disease. This interrupts the vessels in the plant that transport nutrients coupled with moisture to the leaves and hence chokes them. Fusarium can survive in a particular field for several years hence it is very hard if not impossible to grow susceptible crops such as melons.

Fusarium wilt threat affects melon growing economies most badly in the tropics Central Asia in particular where formation is a major source of rural income. What these farmers have been waiting for is an efficient biocontrol agent and Trichoderma harzianum brought into the market through Trianum Shield has provided that. With pre-season application of the Trianum Shield soil treatment, farmers have a weapon against Fusarium attack and enhance general plant health during the growing period.

Biological control and others sustainable practices

In addition to utilising Trianum Shield, farmers such as Paul are adopting other practices of sustainable agriculture to manage crops. In a similar context, crop rotation, disease-free seeds and good field hygiene serve as excellent ways of preventing buildup of pathogens in the field. Another way of decreasing plant humidity is by providing enough space between plants and using drip irrigation. To know more about the trichoderma harzianum uses in agriculture, visit Novobac.

As was demonstrated in Paul’s case, Trianum Shield and Trichoderma harzianum can be a savior for the organic farmers who are struggling to control persistent diseases attributable to fungi. In this way, biocontrol measures help farmers minimize their chemicals, protect their crops from pests and diseases while preserving that soil productivity possible in the years to come.