Biocontrol of rice sheath blight by Trichoderma: selection of promising BCAsand development of strain specific monitoring tools

Abstract: A total of 202 Trichoderma strains were isolated from the soil and rice phyllosphere inpaddy fields at 45 locations throughout the Mazandaran province, Northern Iran. T. harzianumand T. virens proved to be the most frequent species in these habitats. Based on the results of invitro antagonism tests and glasshouse trials, strains with biocontrol potential against the ricesheath blight pathogen Rhizoctonia solani were selected. UP-PCR based SCAR markers weredeveloped for the specific detection and monitoring of T. harzianum AS12-2, the most promisingbiocontrol strain.