Production of Trichoderma harzianum Rifa CMI CC No. 333646

A method for producing Trichoderma harzianum Rifa strain CMI CC No. 333646 in a form suitable for adding directly to soil to protect plants from pathogenic fungi comprising the steps of:

• 1) preparing a carrier-containing culture growth medium comprising a carrier, water and molasses, said carrier being selected from the group consisting of spent grain, crushed maize cobs, bran and cellulose;
• 2) sterilizing the carrier-containing culture growth medium by a Tyndalisation procedure comprising the steps of:
• a) spreading the carrier-containing culture growth medium over trays,
• b) placing the trays in a heating chamber and
• c) heating said chamber to a temperature of from about 130.degree. C. to about 140.degree. C. for about 24 hours and
• d) cooling for about 24 hours and
• e) reheating to about 130.degree. C. to about 140.degree. C. for about 24 hours;
• 3) inoculating the sterilized carrier-containing culture growth medium with Trichoderma harzianum Rifa strain CMI CC No. 333646 spores;
• 4) incubating the inoculated and sterilized carrier-containing culture growth medium at about 28.degree. C. for about 21 days to grow the Trichoderma harzianum Rifa CMI CC No. 333646 to form an incubated product;
• and
• 5) drying the incubated product in a sterile air stream at ambient temperature to obtain said Trichoderma harzianum Rifa strain CMI CC No. 333646 for adding directly to soil to be protected.