Use of Trichoderma harzianum and Daldinia eschscholtzii to enhance the growth of ‘Namwa’ banana

The beneficial fungi Trichoderma and Daldinia are used as defenses against phytopathogenic fungi, as well as for the enhancement of plant growth.
However, there are very few published studies on the effects of these fungi on plant growth and nutrient status, especially in banana.
This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of Trichoderma harzianum GR03 and Daldinia eschscholtzii FL11 on growth and the macro-nutrient status of ‘Namwa’ banana.
Banana sapling tissue cultures were transplanted into 15-L pots.
The experiment was a completely randomized design with three treatments: the control; a hole dressing with T. harzianum GR03; and a hole dressing with D. eschscholtzii FL11. The rate of application was 10 g of beneficial fungi per pot.
This work was conducted at the Fruit Tree Division, Department of Horticulture, Khon Kaen University from August to October, 2017. T. harzianum GR03 increased shoot height and pseudo-stem girth, while D. eschscholtzii FL11 had no effect on these attributes.
The whole plant weight, shoot fresh weight, and shoot dry weight were also highest in the T. harzianum GR03 treatment but there were no significant differences in root fresh weight, root dry weight, root length, or leaf greenness.
Neither T. harzianum GR03 nor D. eschscholtzii FL11 affected nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium contents in the shoots or roots.
This research displayed the potential of T. harzianum GR03 to increase shoot growth.

III Asian Horticultural Congress – AHC2020

S. Isarangkool Na Ayutthaya, T. Adultithipat, R. Nampila, S. Meetha, A. Wongcharoen

Musa ‘Namwa’, Trichoderma, Daldinia, shoot growth, root growth

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1312.42