A METHOD OF LOW-COST PRODUCTION OF GELATINE CAPSULE OF TRICHODERMA SPECIES

Abstract

ABSTRACT Present invention discloses a method for production of gelatine capsules of Trichoderma spp. for use as biocontrol agent and plant growth promoter. The method comprisessoaking agricultural waste, to be used as carbon source, in water to soften; autoclaving the softened agricultural waste under specific conditions; dipping the sterilized agricultural waste in suspension of Trichoderma spp. followed by incubating under specific incubation conditions for growth of Trichoderma spp. to allow multiplication of Trichoderma spp. on the sterilized agricultural waste such that the agricultural waste is covered with the green mycelial and conidial growth of Trichoderma spp.; grinding the agricultural waste covered with the green mycelial and conidial growth of Trichoderma spp. in powder form, and filling the powder in empty gelatine capsules for final packaging. The invention also discloses gelatine capsules of Trichoderma spp. to be used a biocontrol agent and plant growth promoter.

Specification

Description:Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of agricultural biotechnology. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel method of low cost production of gelatine capsule of Trichoderma species for use as plant growth promoter and biocontrol agents.

Background of the Invention
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.

Trichoderma spp. is the most widely used bio-control agent for the management of plant diseases, particularly soil and root borne diseases. It is easily available in most of the ecological niches, can be easily isolated and multiplied on a large number of raw materials.

CN101496528B discloses a Trichoderma biocontrol capsule microbial agent and a preparation method thereof. The microbial agent consists of Trichoderma fungal pure culture viable bacteria, a granule solid medium and a hollow capsule, and is prepared by separating and purifying strains, preparing and drying the granule solid medium and filling the hollow capsule. The capsule preparation has the advantages that: the capsule preparation can be as along as about 3 years in shelf life, is simple in preparation process, greatly improves disease-resistant effects, and has good effects of controlling sclerotinia, wilt and seedling blight of vegetables, fruit trees, flowers and other crops.

WO2016044456A1relates to the formation of microsclerotial propagules by mycoparasitic fungi and the use of those microsclerotia for plant disease control. Representative microscleroita propagules formed are from fugal species Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma lignorum, Trichoderma viridae, Trichoderma reesei, Trichoderma koningii, Trichoderma pseudokoningii, Trichoderma polysporum,
Trichoderma hamatum, and Trichoderma asperellum.

US8431120B2 provides Trichoderma atroviride SC1, CBS no 122089, as a biocontrol agent, i.e. to treat fungal diseases of plants. The second embodiment of the present invention is an agricultural composition comprising the Trichoderma atroviride SC1 as the active principle in an effective amount. The compositions of the present invention may further comprise a second biocontrol agent and/or an additive, an emulsifier, a plant nutrient, a wetting-agent, a plant micro-nutrient or a substratum, wherein said substratum is selected from the group consisting of: a nutrient culture medium, a cereal or a derivative thereof, an amendant, a vegetable or a part thereof, peat, wood or a piece thereof, clay or barks.

One of the constraints in the commercial production of biocontrol agents of Trichoderma spp. is high cost of the bio-formulation and packaging of the final produce which prevents its large scale adoption by small scale farmers and urban dwellers with small kitchen gardens.

Present invention overcomes the drawbacks and provides a low cost method for production of biocontrol agent comprising Trichoderma spp. The invention uses locally available waste materials as raw material for commercial production of Trichoderma spp.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy are as follows:

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide a method of production of gelatine capsules of Trichoderma spp. for use as biocontrol agent and plant growth promoter.
Another object of the present invention is to provide gelatine capsules of Trichoderma spp. for use as biocontrol agent and plant growth promoter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for low cost gelatine capsules of Trichoderma spp. using locally available waste materials as raw material for commercial production of Trichoderma spp.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, there is provided a method of low-cost production of bio-control agent Trichoderma spp. at the farm level. The method is easy, requires minimum inputs and the gelatine capsules as final product can be disbursed to the farmers in the easiest available formulation and can be prepared at the farmers level as a micro-enterprise.

The present invention utilizes the locally available waste material as raw material such as shelled maize cobs for multiplication of theTrichoderma spp. Shelled maize cobs are dipped in aqueous suspension of Trichoderma spores and incubated at room temperature (20-25 oC) for 7-14 days. After the visible growth of Trichoderma, the cobs are ground to a fine powder. The powder is then dispersed in capsules for final packaging.

These and other aspects herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention herein without departing from the spirit thereof.

Brief Description of Accompanying Drawings
Having thus described the subject matter of the present invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

Figure 1depicts the mycelial and conidial growth of Trichoderma spp. on shelled maize cobs.
Figure 2 depicts the powdered maize cobs after growth of Trichoderma spp.
Figure 3 shows gelatinecapsules of the powdered maize cobs after growth of Trichoderma spp.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Detailed Description of the Invention with non-limiting embodiments and examples
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced with or without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures and components have not been described in details so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention.

Furthermore, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to these alternatives only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without parting from the scope of the invention.

As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings. Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are generally only used to distinguish one element from another.

In one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for production of gelatine capsules of Trichoderma spp. for use as biocontrol agent. The invention is based on the multiplication of Trichoderma spp. on the harvested agricultural waste to be used as carbon source of fungus growth. The agricultural waste are soaked in water till they are softened. The softened agricultural waste are autoclaved for sterilization under specific conditions. The sterilized agricultural waste are dipped in suspension of Trichoderma spp. and incubated under specific incubation conditions for growth of Trichoderma spp. After the agricultural waste are covered with the green mycelial and conidial growth of Trichoderma, they are ground to powder in the grinder. The powder is then dispersed in empty gelatinecapsules for final packaging.

In one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for production of gelatine capsules of Trichoderma spp. for use as biocontrol agent. The invention is based on the multiplication of Trichoderma spp. on the harvested and shelled maize cobs. The cobs are soaked in water for 24-48 hours or till they are softened. The softened cobs are autoclaved for sterilization for 20 minutes at a pressure of 15 psiand temperature of 121 oC. The sterilized cobs are dipped in suspension of Trichoderma spp. and incubated for 7-14 days at room temperature (20-25 oC) for growth of Trichoderma spp. After the cobs are covered with the green mycelial and conidial growth of Trichoderma (Fig. 1), they are ground to powder in the grinder (Fig. 2). The powder is then dispersed in empty gelatinecapsules for final packaging (Fig. 3).

The method of production of gelatine capsules of the present invention is easily scalable and can also be produced at farm level as microenterprise.

The capsules shall be dispersed in water before application in the farms. They can be used for seed application, soil application as well as seed treatment or foliar spray.

From the features as applied to various alternatives, it can be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the present disclosure can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As can be recognized, certain alternatives described herein can be embodied within a form that does not provide all of the features and benefits set forth herein, as some features can be used or practiced separately from others. , Claims:I/We claim:
1. A method for production of gelatine capsules of Trichoderma spp. for use as biocontrol agent, said method comprises
- soaking agricultural waste, to be used as carbon source,in water to soften,
- autoclaving the softened agricultural waste under specific conditions,
- dipping the sterilized agricultural waste in suspension of Trichoderma spp.followed by incubating under specific incubation conditions for growth of Trichoderma spp. to allow multiplication of Trichoderma spp. on the sterilized agricultural waste such that the agricultural waste is covered with the green mycelial and conidial growth of Trichoderma spp.,
- grinding the agricultural waste covered with the green mycelial and conidial growth of Trichoderma spp. in powder form,
- filling the powder in empty gelatine capsules for final packaging.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said agricultural waste is shelled corn cobs.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said specific conditions for autoclaving are20 minutes at a pressure of 15 psi at temperature of 121 OC.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said incubation conditions are 7-14 days at room temperature (20-25 oC).
5. The gelatine capsules obtained by a method as claimed in claim 1.

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