Mass Production of Trichoderma spp. on Spent Meals of Parasitoid Hosts Reared in Laboratory

Suitability of the spent meals of laboratory reared insect parasitoid hosts, namely, Corcyra cephalonica and Sitotroga cerealella for the rnass production of Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride and T. virens was studied. Assessment of optimum moisture level required in C. cephaionica spent rneal for rnass production of Trichoderma spp. was done. Approximately 45 per cent rnoisture yielded rnaximum sporulation of Trichoderma spp. While investigating the utilization of spent meals of C. cephalonica and S. cerealella, it was observed that S. cerealella spent rneal supported maximurn sporulation and viable propagules ill all the three species of Trichoderma and was on par with sorghum as a substrate. However, C. cephalonica meal yielded lowest sporUlation and viable propagules.