Summary
The growth of and interactions between the glasshouse pathogens, Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn, Fusarium oxysporum Schlect., Pyrenochaeta lycopersici Schneider & Gerlach, Phomopsis sclerotioides van Kesteren, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary and Botrytis cinerea Pers. and the antagonistic fungi, Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, Trichoderma viride Pers., Coniothyrium minitans Campbell, Gliocladium roseum (Link.) Bain and Pythium oligandrum Dreschler were examined on tap water agar, soil extract agar and potato dextrose agar. The medium had a significant effect on the growth rates of the fungi as well as the production of, and response to, volatile and non-volatile antibiotic compounds and hyphal interactions. Responses to the media appeared to be related both to inherent properties of the fungi and to their natural ecological behaviour. The significance of in vitro assays in screening systems for biological control agents of soil-borne plant pathogens is discussed.

Effect of media on growth and interactions between a range of soil‐borne glasshouse pathogens and antagonistic fungi

This paper provides a review of the latest research findings on the applications of microbial chitinases to biological control. Microorganisms producing these enzymes can inhibit the growth of many fungal diseases that pose a serious threat to global crop production. Currently, efforts are being made to discover producers of chitinolytic enzymes. The potential exists that natural biofungicides will replace chemical fungicides or will be used to supplement currently used fungicides, which would reduce the negative impact of chemicals on the environment and support the sustainable development of agriculture and forestry.

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Chitinolytic Microorganisms and Their Possible Application in Environmental Protection

The antagonistic activities of five biocontrol agents: Trichoderma harzianum, Gliocladium roseum, Bacillus subtilis, Streptomyces noursei and Streptomyces natalensis, were tested in vitro against Colletotrichum acutatum and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causal agents of anthracnose disease in fruit crops The microbial antagonists inhibited mycelial growth in the dual culture assay and conidial germination of Colletotrichum isolates The two Streptomyces species exhibited the strongest antagonism against isolates of C acutatum and C gloeosporioides Microscopic examination showed that the most common mode of action was antibiosis The results of this study identify T harzianum, G roseum, B subtilis, S natalensis and S noursei as promising biological control agents for further testing against anthracnose disease in fruits

http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-4664/2010/0354-46641003611Z.pdf

Screening of antagonistic activity of microorganisms against colletotrichum acutatum and colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Biochemical and metabolic profiles of Trichoderma strains isolated from common bean crops in the Brazilian Cerrado, and potential antagonism against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

One isolate each of Trichoderma viride, Epicoccum nigrum, Fusarium tricinctum, Alternaria alternata, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Cytospora (teleomorph: Valsa sp.) present in epigeous declining oak tissues was evaluated for its ability to control Diplodia corticola (isolate 79). This fungus is the causal agent of cankers, vascular necrosis and dieback on various oak species. Among the isolates tested, T. viride and F. tricinctum showed maximum in vitro inhibition of mycelial growth of D. corticola (isolate 79). Species were also evaluated for their ability to reduce mortality caused by D. corticola (isolate 79) of Quercus cerris and Q. pubescens seedlings under controlled conditions. Two series of inoculations were carried out through wounds in the stem; in the first, the distance between the point of inoculation of the antagonist and the pathogen was 6 cm, whereas in the second series the distance was shortened to 3 cm. In seedlings of Q. cerris and Q. pubescens at a distance of 3 cm, inoculation with F. tricinctum and A. alternata significantly reduced mortality caused by D. corticola (isolate 79). Inoculation of T. viride through artificial cuticular wounds in the stem of seedlings prevented the proliferation of D. corticola (isolate 79) only on seedlings of Q. cerris. All Q. pubescens seedlings treated with T. viride manifested pathological symptoms subsequent to proliferation of D. corticola (isolate 79). These observations indicate that the interactions between endophytes in planta and D. corticola (isolate 79) are complex and merit further study.

C. R. Markham

Papers

In vitro antagonism of Trichoderma species against six fungal plant pathogens [Biological disease control]

In vitro antagonism of Trichoderma species against six fungal plant pathogens.