The Distribution Characteristics of Trichoderma in Turf and Its Inhibitory Effect on Rhizoctonia solani

Effective disease management is crucial for maintaining healthy turf. Trichoderma agents have emerged as a promising strategy for controlling turf diseases while reducing reliance on chemical fungicides. However, the distribution, diversity, and biocontrol potential of Trichoderma in turf ecosystems remain poorly understood. This study investigated Trichoderma strains isolated from rhizosphere soil of turf under different environmental and management conditions. Genetic distances were used to assess diversity, while co-culture assays evaluated inhibitory activity against Rhizoctonia solani. The Wilcoxon test was used for comparing diversity and antagonistic potential across environmental factors. The study identified Trichoderma brevicompactum and Trichoderma harzianum as the dominant species in turf ecosystems. Trichoderma diversity was highest in healthy turf under moderate management. However, strains from diseased turf showed stronger inhibitory effects on Rhizoctonia solani, suggesting that pathogen pressure and plant stress responses may enrich antagonistic Trichoderma. These findings provide valuable insights for the isolation and screening of Trichoderma species for effective biocontrol in turf management.