Trichoderma versus Verticillium/Fusarium

[beeman]

I originally posted the following as a reply, but have more to add and also thought it worthy of a thread of it's own, the replies got buried as a lot of posts seem to, so here we go again.

For many years my garden has suffered from the wilts, plants which should in theory do well, don't. I have used chemical fertilizers, flaming, fumigation and a host of other treatments trying to improve the crops. In my view there is little point in gardening when you know the plants are going to fail, easier to sit and watch TV, I was desperate for an answer.

I have been doing some trials this year in an attempt to find a cure/preventative for Verticillium/Fusarium wilts which my tomatoes and other plants have suffered with for years. It's only fair I should share the results, perhaps helping others afflicted with this problem. I know how painful it is to watch good plants die from the wilts without having a cure or preventative.

I started the trial with "Myke Vegetable" mycorrihizae, bought locally, and part way through I found out about "Biovam" a Mycorrihizae with "Trichoderma fungus", to be used as a preventative, so went ahead and shipped some in from the USA. The "Myke Vegetable" product does not include Trichoderma as part of it's makeup whereas the USA Mycorrihizae had Trichoderma, including both ecto and endo.

I planted one row of 15 bush Romas, the first two plants had no treatment at all. The remaining 13 were all treated with the Trichoderma. The plants were growing extremely well, but the first two did not achieve the size of the treated, and on the first hot day recently both plants collapsed, while the rest of the row look terrific.

At the same time I planted another row of 18 plants all treated with the Myke Vegetable treatment. Overall the plants look terrific, growing well, no signs of early blight, in spite of a lot of rain, healthy and a good green, up to 3 trusses, setting fruit. Regretfully I have four already which have collapsed.

Another row of 10 plants, this time using the Trichoderma treatment. To date all the plants are doing well, and so far no collapsed plants.

Vines also benefit from Trichoderma. Four greenhouse cucumbers, two with Trich, two without, guess which ones are starting to fail, just as they begin to produce fruit?

For many years I keep starting garden melons, it is very rare to get any fruit. This year I am well on the way with what appears to be a good crop. Strawberries. Some plants grow, some don't. I have treated by innoculating the roots in a portion of the bed, already I can see a benefit, stronger, greener, upright plants.

So it would seem that the Thrichoderma plantings are safe from the wilts.

The only conclusion to make, in my opinion, Biovam Mycorrihizae with Trichoderma does provide some prevention to V/F wilts, only at the end of harvesting will I be sure this works to beat my problems, so will report back.

I have no vested interest in the companies who market BioVam or Myke.