ABSTRACT
The study was carried out in the Department of Crop Science Laboratory,
University Of Benin, to culture and multiply Trichoderma harzianum as a
biocontrol agent for soil and seed application using corncobs and spent mushroom
waste as the substrate. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized
Design(CRD) with 10 replications using two treatment which contains grounded
corncobs and spent mushroom waste on a 4:1 basis, that is, 80% corncobs and 20%
spent mushroom waste mixed together homogeneously.
The results, showed that growth of Trichoderma harzianum on the substrate was
only minimal due 20% of spent mushroom waste present in the substrate which
slows down the growth of the fungi, which could be as a result of residual
fungicides used in mushroom cultivation or other substance produced by the
mushroom themselves. However, when recovering the organism from the substrate,
few colonies were formed.
In conclusion, corncobs and mushroom waste can serve as effective substrates for
Trichoderma harzianum multiplication. Their availability, low cost, and suitable
composition make them attractive alternatives to more expensive synthetic media,
but it is advisable to use sole corn cobs as substrate for better result, because it
contains essential nutrients like cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which serves
as carbon source for Trichoderma harzianum growth.
