Agricultural and Biological Research

The impact of Trichoderma isolates on seed germination, vigor index, and health of chilli cultivars

Sarita, Sunita Bhandari* and Raveena

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is a highly consumed and economically significant crop. The Trichoderma genus, renowned for its role as a biological control agent, exhibits diverse mechanisms influencing plant growth and defense. This research investigates the effect of Trichoderma isolates on the germination percentage, vigor index, and growth parameters of various chilli varieties. The study isolates indigenous Trichoderma spp. from rhizosphere soils and assesses their culture filtrates' effects on chilli seeds. Significant enhancements were observed in seed germination percentage, radical and plumule length, as well as seedling fresh and dry weight under Trichoderma treatments, particularly TRNU-1 and TRNU-2. Among the all the verities of chilli Kashmiri Long found the highest seed germination (64.67%), seedling length (8.88 cm), 10 seedling fresh weight (0.44 g) and vigour index-I (608.27), Pusha Jwala found the highest 10 seedling dry weight (0.35 g) and vigour index-II (16.34) and UHFC-12 found the highest radical length (4.47 cm) and plumule (4.70 cm). These findings highlight the potential of Trichoderma as a biocontrol agent and growth promoter in chilli cultivation, emphasizing its potential for sustainable agriculture and improved crop productivity.