Nematicidal activity of Trichoderma spp. and isolation of an active compound

Trichoderma spp. play an important role in biotic control, and several are efficacious against nematodes. To study the potential of Trichoderma species in controlling nematodes, fungal filtrates of 329 Trichoderma strains were evaluated for their nematicidal activity against Panagrellus redivivus and Caenorhabditis elegans. Fifteen strains exhibited nematicidal activity against P. redivivus, and 14 strains showed activity against C. elegans. The strain YMF1.02647 showed strong nematicidal activity against both nematodes, and the culture broth could cause more than 90% mortality to the tested nematodes within 48 h. A nematicidal compound was isolated from ethyl acetate extract of Trichoderma YMF1.02647 based on bioassay-guided fractionation. The compound was identified as trichodermin according to the spectroscopic data, which could kill more than 95% both P. redivivus and C. elegans in 72 h at 0.4 g l⁻¹.