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Research shows that aggressive isolates of Trichoderma harzianum produce about 7-8-fold higher biomass in compost, containing Agaricus bisporus, than the nonaggressive isolates. Results indicate that both aggressive isolates secrete depolymerases, which attack the cell walls of A. bisporus. Data suggest that aggressiveness is due to competition, antagonism, or parasitism in a saprophytic growth environment.

This article describes the development of a culture medium for selective, quantitative reisolation of Trichoderma harzianum from commercial Agaricus bisporus compost. The culture medium containing the antimicrobials such as chloramphenicol, streptomycin, quintozene, and propamocarb selectively allows recovery of T. harzianum in the form of viable conidia and hyphal fragments in compact colonies.