Development and commercialization of Trichoderma asperellum SKT-1 (Ecohope), a microbial pesticide

Trichoderma asperellum (=T. atroviride Karsten) SKT-1, a biocontrol agent (BCA) that is highly effective against rice seedborne diseases, was discovered and developed by Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. and Shizuoka Prefecture Agricultural Experiment Station. To commercialize this fungus as a microbial pesticide, we studied the economical fermentation methods, stable formulation, and identification of this fungus. As a result, we successfully developed “Ecohope®” and “Ecohope-Dry®”, microbial pesticides that are comparable in price to chemical pesticides, retain high biological effects in distribution, and show excellent stability. “Ecohope®” and “Ecohope-Dry®” were registered as agricultural pesticides in 2003 and 2004, respectively.