1. Trichoderma viride is a fungus that can be used as a biocontrol agent against plant pathogens like Rhizoctonia solani. It was isolated from soil near chili plants and shown to inhibit the growth of pathogens through mycoparasitism and antibiosis.
2. The fungus was mass cultured using agricultural waste like sugarcane bagasse, with sorghum seeds and vermicompost also supporting its growth. In a greenhouse study, T. viride reduced disease incidence in chili seedlings infected with R. solani and promoted plant growth.
3. Treatment with T. viride cultivated on sugarcane bagasse resulted in the tallest chili plants. While plant growth