Looking back at my several years experience of gardening I have come to realize that there is hardly any disease that does not start with the roots of plants. Regardless of how pretty the tops of your plants look, the roots are what truly controls your success of getting crops in the end. In as much as they may be fewer, some of the problems that have ever bothered me include the Pythium root rot which is a dangerous disease in gardening since it is brought about by water mold which result in poor growth, withering and in some extreme, plant deaths. But in the course of my continual study of organic gardening, I have come across a wonderful product by the name Trianum Shield, a biofungicide derived from Trichoderma biocontrol.
What is Pythium Root Rot?
This disease affects many farmers and gardeners as well as horticulturists dealing with commercial farming and home produce. This disease develops well in wet and waterlogged soils, and thus is relatively difficult to control in areas with a high intensity rainfall or irrigation. It goes to the base of a plant thus denying the plant the ability to pull water and nutrients from the ground. The result? Slow growth, wilting of the foliage and, finally, plant death.
In the past, there were only traditional fungicides which were used to solve the problem. But as ever, they have also led to questions on the condition of the soil, the effect on the whole environment, and even resistance to pathogens. Living as a professional gardener and a person who tries to make catches grow without a negative impact on the surrounding world I have turned to the concept of biological control – and this is where the work of Trichoderma harzianum comes from.
It was established that the biocontrol agent from Trichoderma harzianum had the power over the disease-causing agent from Rhizoctonia solani.
Trichoderma harzianum is a friendly fungus of soil and it has a responsibility in root-associated diseases. When in the form of Trianum Shield it is called a biocontrol agent mainly targeting the unfavorable and destructive pathogens such as Pythium responsible for root rot disease. What differentiate it from conventional chemical fungicide is it is a systems fungicide that provides a three-pronged solution. T. harzianum is also a biocontrol agent which also assists in providing immunity to the plant and also assists in structure formation of the soil.
As stated above, from microbial agricultural laboratory, Trichoderma harzianum emerges around the root bodies and forms a covering. They sprouted and grew along with the plant and barred other destructive fungi from germinating and growing on the plant. This mechanism of action is called the competitive exclusion and it is one of the main reasons why Delivers such a fantastic job of managing the Pythium root rot.
Cultural Practices for Sustainable Disease Management
Although I put my confidence in this kind of biological controls such as Trianum Shield, I think that a proper mixture of these cultural practices with biofungicides is the ultimate remedy. Culture is central to planting bamboo and proper culture is the key to any successful garden. Here are some steps I’ve incorporated into my routine to prevent the onset of Pythium root rot:
- Well-Drained Soil: What I have discovered is that the primary requirement is proper drainage in the soil. Successful methods of managing Pythium include use of raised beds or amending the soil with an organic matter as this prevents building up of water which is a medium for growth of Pythium.
- Irrigation Management: Preventing over watering is very important. I adopt drip irrigation so that water could be supplied to the plants root area without wetting the entire soil mass.
- Crop Rotation: Another is crop rotation is also important. This helps to avoid accumulation of soil pathogens such as Pythium; Thus, the same plant families are not always being challenged with the same diseases.
- Biofertilizers: The application of Trianum Shield with organic fertilizer has proved to be very effective. The natural nutrient sources along with the covering layer of Trichoderma harzianum give a round improvement impact to the crops.
- Trendextrapolation of Biology: An Analysis of Biologist Views on the Advantages of Developing Biological Solutions
Trichoderma fungicide uses as Trianum Shield, I have sought advice from microbial agriculturalists who are drawn from university and research facility institutions. They clarify this by pointing out that incorporating biofungicides into South Africa’s plant disease management strategies means that the country is thinking ahead in terms of soil management. Chemical fungicides give rise to residue and are unfavorable to good bacteria, they also pollute the environment, while Trichoderma harzianum is biological control and does not cause any harm to the environment.
Dr. Ravi Sharma, a plant pathology scientist at one of the biggest agriculture universities shared his opinion that “the biofungicides like Trichoderma harzianum not only protects the diseases but also helps in building up the ability of the plants for the future.” They also boost the immune system of the plant enabling them fight stress factors, whether it is diseases or even factors such as drought.
However, studies conducted have established that Trichoderma harzianum also has growth promoting activity by increasing nutrient assimilation in the plant. All these problems have been minimized by using Trianum Shield in my own experience and the overall effect has been enhancement of plants health, with enhanced root systems.
A Green Path Forward
Sometimes it requires special equipment for preparing the soil properly and pest control and as gardeners and farmers we need to understand the basic prerequisite for taking care of the garden and the yields. The pathogen Pythium root rot cannot be easily defeated, however through such cultural practices as well as use of biocontrol agents such as the Trianum Shield we stand a chance to protect our plants without the use of the dangerous chemicals. From my own garden, let me say that the fungua known as Trichoderma harzianum makes a huge difference to the roots, crops and soil food web.
The future of gardening is to stimulate the defense capabilities of nature and Trichoderma harzianum is a classic for the eco-revolution. To know more about pythium root rot control, visit Novobac.
