Genetic Analysis of Trichoderma spp. from central Egypt and their potential biocontrol of some pests

Agriculture is one of the most significant contributors to Egypt’s gross domestic product. However, many stressors, including biotic and abiotic factors, affect total crop production qualitatively and quantitatively. Chemical pesticides and fungicides are still widely used to combat these threats. However, agrochemicals cause changes in the behavior of pests and pathogens as well as the emergence of resistance. Additionally, they harmed the environment and human health. Therefore, the need to create an alternate defense mechanism, such as biological control, has been raised as a result. Trichoderma fungus is one of the hundreds of microorganisms widely used as a biocontrol agent. It is an asexual fungus that can not only control pests and prevent diseases but also promote plant growth, improve nutrient utilization efficiency, enhance plant resistance, and improve the environmental quality of agrochemical pollution. Therefore, this research aimed to 1) isolate native Trichoderma from different governorates of Egypt and identify strains at the species level. 2) evaluation of strains' effectiveness against phytopathogenic fungi R. solani and M. phaseolina and the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis. 3) carry out interspecific protoplast fusion of selected native strains for possible enhancement of their biocontrol activity. 4) Compare the biological control features of strains derived from protoplast fusion relative to their parental native strains.