Potential for biological control of Phytophthora root and crown rots of apple by Trichoderma and Gliocladium spp

• Published in: Phytopathology Vol. 80; no. 9; pp. 880 - 885
• Main Authors: Smith, V.L. (Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven), Wilcox, W.F, Harman, G.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: St. Paul, MN American Phytopathological Society 01.09.1990
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; AUXILIAIRE DE LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; Control; CONTROL BIOLOGICO; CONTROL DE ENFERMEDADES; CONTROLE DE MALADIES; COPA; EXPERIMENTACION IN VITRO; EXPERIMENTATION IN VITRO; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal plant pathogens; GLIOCLADIUM; HOUPPIER; INDICE DE CRECIMIENTO; LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE; MALUS; ORGANISMOS PARA CONTROL BIOLOGICO; PATHOGENESE; PATOGENESIS; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; PHYTOPHTHORA CACTORUM; PLANTULAS; PLANTULE; PODREDUMBRE DE LA RAIZ; POURRITURE DES RACINES; TAUX DE CROISSANCE; TRICHODERMA; Trichoderma; Mycosis; Biological control; Phycomycetes; Rosaceae; Malus domestica; Phytopathogen; Gliocladium virens; Phytophthora cactorum; Fungi; Infection; Hypocotyl; Microbiological control; Fruit crop; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Isolate; Spermatophyta; Fungi Imperfecti; Fruit tree; Integrated pest management; Thallophyta; Inoculum
• ISSN: 0031-949X; 1943-7684
• DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-80-880

A system was developed to identify isolates of Trichoderma and Gliocladium with potential for biocontrol of P. cactorum. Seedlings from open-pollinated McIntosh apples were grown in potting mix infested with both Phytophthora cactorum and candidate biocontrol fungi (Trichoderma and Gliocladium spp.). After 14 days of growth and a 72-hr flooding interval, significant reductions in root damage and increases in plant weight, compared with seedlings exposed to P. cactorum alone, were observed with some isolates of biocontrol candidates. Presence of both the pathogen and biocontrol fungi in the potting mix significantly influenced plant weight and the incidence of hypocotyl infection, and chi-square analysis indicated a lack of independence between qualitative root damage ratings and the presence of biocontrol agents. In the absence of P. cactorum, growth of apple seedlings was significantly increased by the presence of some isolates of biocontrol fungi. The system developed will aid in the identification of isolates of Trichoderma and Gliocladium spp. with potential for biocontrol of P. cactorum