Trichoderma for Black Gram (Urad): Natural Biofungicide for Root Rot Control, Healthy Nodulation & Higher Yield
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Black gram (Urad) is one of the most widely cultivated pulse crops, valued for its high protein content, excellent market demand, and ability to enrich soil through biological nitrogen fixation. Healthy roots and efficient nodulation are essential for vigorous vegetative growth, flowering, pod formation, and grain filling. However, soil-borne fungal diseases can attack seeds, seedlings, roots, and collar regions, resulting in poor crop establishment, plant mortality, and reduced productivity.
Trichoderma is a beneficial fungal biofungicide that naturally protects black gram plants from harmful soil pathogens while stimulating stronger root systems and improving soil microbial activity. Species such as Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma asperellum, and Trichoderma koningii establish themselves in the rhizosphere, suppress disease-causing fungi, and create favorable conditions for beneficial microorganisms, including Rhizobium, leading to improved crop health and higher yields.
Unlike conventional chemical fungicides, Trichoderma provides long-term biological protection by colonizing the root zone throughout the crop cycle while enhancing nutrient availability and soil fertility.
Benefits of Trichoderma in Black Gram
- Improves seed germination and uniform crop establishment.
- Protects seedlings from damping-off and early fungal infections.
- Promotes vigorous root growth and root branching.
- Suppresses root rot, collar rot, and seedling diseases.
- Enhances nodulation when used with compatible Rhizobium inoculants.
- Improves biological nitrogen fixation.
- Increases nutrient and moisture uptake.
- Encourages healthy vegetative growth.
- Improves flowering and pod setting.
- Enhances pod filling and grain development.
- Increases seed size, grain weight, and overall quality.
- Improves drought tolerance and environmental stress resistance.
- Enhances beneficial microbial populations in the rhizosphere.
- Reduces dependence on chemical fungicides.
- Improves long-term soil fertility and biological activity.
Diseases Managed
Trichoderma helps suppress several economically important soil-borne diseases affecting black gram, including:
- Damping-off
- Root Rot
- Collar Rot
- Seed Rot
- Seedling Blight
- Rhizoctonia Root Rot
- Fusarium Root Rot
- Pythium Root Rot
- Dry Root Rot (Macrophomina phaseolina)
- Sclerotium Stem Rot
Mode of Action
Trichoderma protects black gram through multiple biological mechanisms:
- Rapidly colonizes the rhizosphere before pathogens establish.
- Competes with disease-causing fungi for nutrients and root space.
- Produces enzymes such as chitinase and glucanase that degrade fungal cell walls.
- Releases natural antifungal metabolites that inhibit pathogen growth.
- Directly parasitizes harmful fungi through mycoparasitism.
- Activates the plant's natural defense system (Induced Systemic Resistance).
- Stimulates root branching and increases root biomass.
- Improves soil microbial diversity and supports beneficial nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
These combined biological activities provide season-long disease protection while improving plant vigor and productivity.
Recommended Application
Seed Treatment
Treat black gram seed with 8–10 g of Trichoderma powder per kg of seed before sowing.
If Rhizobium inoculant is used, first treat the seed with Trichoderma, allow it to dry in the shade, and then apply the Rhizobium culture according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
Soil Application
Mix 2–4 kg per acre of Trichoderma powder with 50–100 kg of well-decomposed farmyard manure (FYM) or compost and apply uniformly before sowing.
Furrow Application
Apply Trichoderma-enriched compost directly into seed furrows to establish beneficial fungi around developing roots.
Drip Irrigation
Compatible liquid Trichoderma formulations may be applied through drip irrigation or irrigation water according to the manufacturer's recommended dose.