Research

A pathogenic fungus, Phellinus noxius is one of the main cause for brown root rot disease in some of well-known established tree species in southeast Queensland. The fungus is distributed throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of Southeast and East Asia, Oceania, Central America and Africa. The disease affects a wide variety of important agricultural and forest plant species, mostly woody but some herbaceous plant hosts.

Wood decaying fungus Ganoderma australe is also affecting many trees in urban regions. The fungus causes white rot in some of well-established mature trees. A large bracket fungus that grows to typically 25cm across and 5 to 25cm thick, with a pale margin and lower surface and a dark brown or dark grey upper surface. The tube layer is brilliant white when ready to release brown spores. During active sporing, generally in autumn, the surrounding area including parts of the top of the bracket with a dense brown dust.

Trichoderma, which generally available in soil and plant root systems has gained colossal importance since last few decades due to its biological control ability against several plant pathogens (Kubicek & Harman, 2002). Trichoderma can reduce growth, survival or infections caused by pathogens by different mechanisms like competition, antibiosis, myco-parasitism, hyphal interactions and enzyme secretion.