Biological suppression of sugarcane smut through native Trichoderma isolates increased sugarcane yield at Wonji, Ethiopia

Smut disease is identified as the main constraint in the cultivation of sugarcane in Ethiopia. Although the country has employed a range of management strategies, none of them have resulted in ecologically safe and sustainable control. The use of Trichoderma spp. in the management of this disease is one of the unexploited potentials under Ethiopian conditions. Native Trichoderma isolates - MI3-m33 (Trichoderma viride), MKI2-k17 (T. asperellum), MKI3 (T. harzianum), WI12-25 (T. viride), and WI4-27 (T. harzianum) - were verified for their effectiveness in managing smut pathogen in vitro at Wonji. However, the isolates' effect on smut under in vivo conditions was unknown. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate these isolates against smut. The impact of seed cane treatment with the isolates against smut was evaluated in a randomised complete block design with three replications at Wonji for two cropping seasons. Data on smut intensity and sugarcane yield components were collected. Cane and sugar yield increased by 55.52, 38.33 and 66.78%, and 59.42, 38.69 and 70.42%, respectively due to seed cane treatment by: MKI2-k17, MKI3 and WI4-27. These isolates also guaranteed complete protection against smut. Therefore, these isolates could be used as an alternative to fungicide, following field efficacy and compatibility tests.