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Background: In Egypt, chocolate spot disease caused by Botrytis fabae Sard. and Botrytis sinerea Pers. is the most serious disease affecting bean. Trichoderma harzianum Rifai is one of the most potent bioagents used for the control of many plant pathogens. This biocontrol agent has not harmful effects on humans, wild life and other beneficial organisms, safe and effective biocontrol agent in both natural and controlled environments that doesn’t accumulate in the food chain. Materials and Methods: The antagonistic effect of T. harzianum against B. fabae was investigated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium using dual culture technique. Also the antifungal activity of T. harzianum metabolites was also tested on the linear growth of B. fabae using cellophane method. Scanning electron microscopy was also used to investigate the mycoparasitic nature of T. harzianum on B. fabae. Results: An overgrowth of T. harzianum on B. fabae was observed, indicating the antagonistic behavior of T. harzianum against B. fabae. A complete reduction in the linear growth of B. fabae was observed indicating the antifungal activity of T. harzianum metabolites. By using the slide culture method, light microscopy observations showed an evidence about the mycoparasitic nature of the tested isolate of T. harzianum on B. fabae. Scanning electron microscopic observations confirmed the mycoparasitic nature of T. harzianum on B. fabae. Conclusion: The above results confirmed the mycoparasitic and aggressive nature of T. harzianum on B. fabae.
