A native Trichoderma isolate was collected from the agricultural soil of Gazipur. This isolate was identified as a Trichoderma asperellum through morphology and analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal RNA gene sequence and reconstruction of the phylogenetic tree. The antagonistic effects of the newly identified T. asperellum isolate were assessed against brinjal bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum both in vitro and in planta. Both qualitative and quantitative bioassays were conducted in vitro. For qualitative tests, dual culture and antibacterial activity were carried out, and pathogen growth was observed visually. The antagonism of T. asperellum cell free culture filtrate on the growth of R. solanacearum was conducted in a quantitative test. Successful antagonism was recorded after both in vitro qualitative tests. In addition, the lowest colony forming unit was recorded in 100% of CFC (2.4±0.51 ×103 cfu/ml) in quantitative test. The T. asperellum inoculated plant showed low disease incidence (13.33%) when seedlings were challenged with R. solanacearum in planta experiment. Disease incidence was 100% for seedlings when treated with only R. solanacearum. The results showed that the isolated and identified T. asperellum isolate suppressed R. solanacearum growth in vitro and protected the seedling from wilting in planta. Therefore, this isolate could be considered as a potential isolate. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2020) 24(2) : 107-120

Application of phosphorus solubilizing microbes is a promising tool for enhancing P uptake in plant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phosphate solubilization potential and growth promotion of pea (Pisum sativum L.) by native Trichoderma asperellum isolate G3. Phosphate solubilization by T. asperellum strain was assessed in National Botanical Research Institute’s Phosphate (NBRIP) broth medium. Pea plants were inoculated by Trichoderma strain and grown in pot in phosphate deficit condition. The fungal strain was able to solubilize phosphate (from 188.95±2.04 to 262.50±3.80 mgL-1) in broth at different time periods and decreased solution pH. The Trichoderma inoculated pea plant increased the root growth, shoot growth, leaf number, shoot biomass, root biomass, total dry weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid by 23.9%, 33.3%, 33%, 37.1%, 32.7%, 28.4%, 24.5%, 17.4% and 14.7% respectively over control after 5 weeks of post inoculation. The results showed that the native T. asperellum isolate G3 has great potential in the phosphorus solubilization. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2020) 24(2) : 121-124