A biological control being developed for use in the treatment of plant disease is the fungus Trichoderma. Trichoderma species are free-living fungi that are very common in the root ecosystems. They are effective biocontrol agents of several plant pathogens.
Trichoderma is a free-living fungus used as a biological control agent to protect plants from pathogenic microorganisms. Students often confuse biocontrol agents with harmful fungi or antibiotics, mistakenly thinking Trichoderma damages plants rather than protects them. The key distinction is that Trichoderma acts antagonistically against plant pathogens in root ecosystems, making it beneficial. Remember: Trichoderma is a beneficial microbe, not a pathogen itself, and it's specifically associated with root zone protection. This is frequently tested because NEET emphasizes practical applications of microbes in agriculture and sustainable disease management.
Which of the following can be used as a biocontrol agent in the treatment of plant disease? (NEET 2019)
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