Effect of Trichoderma Species on the Vegetative Growth of Selected Local Rice Cultivar in Nigeria

Rice ( Oryza sativa ) is the most important source of food which provide diet to more than 50% of Nigerias population. A principal objective in modern agriculture is to enhance productivity while adhering to ecological principles, creating a demand for sustainable pest management strategies like biocontrol agents (BCAs). The fungus Trichoderma, a prominent BCA, employs a multi-enzymatic system to exert its biocontrol effects. Its efficacy is largely attributed to enzymes that degrade pathogen cell walls, improve resilience against biotic and abiotic stressors, and support robust hyphal development. Trichoderma viride was isolated and identified using morphological and molecular techniques, with ITS sequencing and subsequent BLAST analysis on the NCBI database. The experiment consists of four treatments (FAR044; treated with Trichoderma viride and control; SIPPIRICE; treated with Trichoderma viride ) laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD). The result demonstrated statistically significant enhancements in plant growth parameters due to Trichoderma viride treatment, with P-value of (p = 0.001) for treatment type, (p = 0.001) for time (week), and (p = 0.002) for the treatment-time interaction. By Week 5, Trichoderma viride -treated Far044 plants exhibited a mean height of 10.0 ± 0.8 cm, leaf blade length of 6.0 ± 0.5 cm, and 8.0 ± 0.6 shoots per plant, surpassing untreated controls by 34.5%, 32.1%, and 53.8%, respectively. Cohen's d effect sizes for these parameters were substantial: 1.5 (plant height), 1.4 (leaf size), and 1.7 (shoot number), all indicative of large treatment effects. Sippirice plants displayed analogous trends but with reduced increments: 7.2 cm height gain (vs. 10.0 cm in Far044), 4.3 cm leaf expansion (vs. 6.0 cm), and 6.5 shoots (vs. 8.0), reflecting varietal differences in growth responsiveness. These findings position Trichoderma viride as a sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides, particularly for resource-constrained regions like Nigeria and promote the Growth of plant and ultimately increased the grain yield significantly compared to control without any hazardous effect on the environment.