Influence of Trichoderma species on seed germination in okra

Three Trichoderma species were evaluated for their potential regulatory effect. Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench] seeds were coated with spore suspension of each test species of Thichoderma supplemented with 2% of starch (w/v) as an adhesive. For each treatment, ten seeds were placed in each Petri plate and incubated at 25 °C under dark. Germination of seeds was recorded daily for 10 days. Among the three species, T. harzianum was found to be highly effective to enhance the germination percentage in okra seeds. However the species T. viridi and T. koningii were also significantly effective as compared to control. Okra seeds also gave the highest germination index values with T. harzianum which confined to better germination. Seed treatment with T. harziamun can be useful to enhance the germination percentage of okra seeds as well as reduce lose due to delayed germination. Further investigations however are required to study in vivo effect of Trichoderma spp. on germination as well as morphological and physiological characteristics in okra plant and fruit production.