Trichoderma Biocontrol of Colletotrichum acutatum and Botrytis cinerea and Survival in Strawberry

Trichoderma isolates are known for their ability to control plant pathogens. It has been shown that various isolates of Trichoderma, including T. harzianum isolate T-39 from the commercial biological control product TRICHODEX, were effective in controlling anthracnose (Colletotrichum acutatum) and grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) in strawberry, under controlled and greenhouse conditions. Three selected Trichoderma strains, namely T-39, T-161 and T-166, were evaluated in large-scale experiments using different timing application and dosage rates for reduction of strawberry anthracnose and grey mould. All possible combinations of single, double or triple mixtures of Trichoderma strains, applied at 0.4% and 0.8% concentrations, and at 7 or 10 day intervals, resulted in reduction of anthracnose severity; the higher concentration (0.8%) was superior in control whether used with single isolates or as a result of combined application of two isolates, each at 0.4%. Only a few treatments resulted in significant control of grey mould. Isolates T-39 applied at 0.4% at 2 day intervals, T-166 at 0.4%, or T-161 combined with T-39 at 0.4% were as effective as the chemical fungicide fenhexamide. The survival dynamics of populations of the Trichoderma isolates (T-39, T-105, T-161 and T-166) applied separately was determined by dilution plating and isolates in the mixtures calculated according to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using repeat motif primers. The biocontrol isolates were identified to the respective species T. harzianum (T-39), T. hamatum (T-105), T. atroviride (T-161) and T. longibrachiatum (T-166), according to internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis.     

An inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis — Difluoromethylornithine — and the polyamine spermidine for the control of gray mold(Botrytis Cinerea)

Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) — an inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, and the polyamine spermidine (Spd) reduced gray mold of tomato, pepper, eggplant, bean andSenecio sp. leaves, and of rose petals by 37–88% when applied at 0.1–1.0 mM each. Higher doses did not result in better control. The disease was also reduced significantly on tomato fruits by 1.0 inM DFMO and by 0.1–1.0 mM Spd, and on cucumber fruits by 0.1–1.0 mM of both compounds, but not on grape berries. The combination of 0.2 mM DFMO with 1.0 mM Spd controlled gray mold ofSenecio sp. and tomato leaves additively better than either treatment alone, whereas this effect was not observed in leaves of lettuce and pepper. Ethylene production was reduced significantly by Spd applied to leaves of tomato and pepper, but not by DFMO. Linear growth and germination of the fungus were affected by lower concentrations of DFMO (ED50 0.12–0.97 and 1.4, respectively) as compared with Spd. Spermidine and DFMO controlled white mold(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) as effectively as did the fungicide benomyl. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization. No. 3195-E, 1991 series.     

Calcium reducesBotrytis c1nerea damages to plants ofRuscus hypoglossum

Plants ofRuscus hypoglossum L. were grown in containers with perlite, an inert medium, or with soil, under similar-to-commercial conditions, for three winter seasons. Constant fertilization with soluble calcium [Ca(NO₃)₂] through the root zone resulted in a reduction of up to 78% in postharvest rot caused by artificial inoculation withBotrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr. Control plants were treated by fertilization with N,P,K and all other elements, identical to the fertilizer containing calcium. Foliar application of Ca(NO₃)₂ to ruscus bushes or application of this compound or of CaCl₂ or CaSO₄ to mature cut branches standing in water, resulted also in a significant reduction in postharvest phylloclade rot. Application of CaSO₄ and Ca(H2PO₄)₂ + CaSO₄ to ruscus plants, from fertilizers containing 22% Ca and releasing the cation gradually, effectively reduced the susceptibility of cut branches to infection by_{B. cinerea.}     

Reduced volume application of fungicides for the control of onion rots

A survey was conducted to define the fungi population contaminating onion bulbs in Israel during three growing seasons. Significant rots were found to be caused byBotrytis allii, B. cinerea andAspergillus niger. All the onion stocks tested showed infections, but the severity and identity of the pathogens varied between seasons.B. cinerea andB. allii were the most prevalent fungi in winter-harvested onions. Species ofAspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Rhizopus andTrichoderma were also isolated. The first two were the only species found on summer onions. High fungal contamination had been the main factor affecting an attempt to improve the storage quality and shelf life of the harvested bulbs. Chemical disinfection using a reduced-volume application (RVA) technique was efficient in controlling the major storage rots (caused byA. niger andB. cinerea) of the bulbs, without the major disadvantages of the dipping method. The rate of control was directly correlated with the cover density of the deposited fungicide, but not with the amount deposited. The RVA technique should enable prolongation of postharvest shelf life and storability of onion bulbs.     

A selective medium for improving quantitative isolation ofTrichoderma spp. from soil

ATrichoderma-selective agar medium (TSM) was developed for quantitative isolation ofTrichoderma spp. from soil. Selectivity was obtained by using chloramphenicol as a bacterial inhibitor, and pentachloronitrobenzene, p-dimethylaminobenzenediazo sodium sulfonate and rose-bengal as selective fungal inhibitors. The TSM also contains a low concentration of glucose which still allows relatively rapid growth and sporulation ofTrichoderma, enabling convenient and rapid identification ofTrichoderma colonies. All the 15Trichoderma isolates tested formed colonies and grew well on this medium. Recovery ofTrichoderma from artificially inoculated soils was high and was not affected by soil type or by other microorganisms. A positive correlation was observed betweenTrichoderma added to soil and counts ofTrichoderma colonies on TSM plates. When combined with a soil pellet sampler, the selective medium was also used successfully for recovery of the indigenousTrichoderma population of natural soils.     

Influence of diet on the shedding of Candida glabrata by experimentally infected preweaned calves

The influence of three diets, comprising dam's milk (DM) from the same farm, commercial milk replacer with (CMRL) or without 3.2% lactose (CMR), on the duration and intensity of Candida glabrata shedding in the faeces of preweaned calves following experimental oral infection was examined. Shedding of other potential enteric pathogens was also monitored. The duration and intensity of C. glabrata shedding in DM-fed calves were reduced significantly compared with the calves fed the two diets based on milk replacers. Consequently, feeding calves with DM might disrupt the infective cycle, resulting in the yeast's elimination from a farm. In the CMR and CMRL groups, the periods of intensive shedding of C. glabrata and rotavirus overlapped but no diarrhoea was associated with the shedding of either microorganism. There was no evidence that lactose diminished colonization in vivo.     

Significance of leaf infection by Botrytis cinerea in stem rotting of tomatoes grown in non-heated greenhouses

The most serious symptom of Botrytis cinerea in tomatoes grown in greenhouses is stem rotting. Lesions on the stem may result from direct infection or from progression of the rot along infected leaves, until infection approaches the stem. In a set of experiments conducted in commercial greenhouses, an experimental greenhouse and growth chambers, the significance of the two types of stem infections was studied. In non-heated greenhouses most of the stem lesions originated from progression of the pathogen along infected petioles. The rate at which B. cinerea had progressed on infected petioles was 0.3–0.5 cm/day, an average of ca. 6 weeks was needed for a leaf infection to approach the stem. Application of Trichoderma harzianum T39 extended this time by 1–2 weeks and application of chemical fungicides by 3 weeks. Influence of the environment on the progression of B. cinerea along infected petioles was then determined. Within range of 5–30 °C, the higher the temperature, the more rapid was the rate of disease progression. The fungus progressed more rapidly on tomato petioles incubated at high vapour pressure deficit (VPD) rather than at low VPD. The source-sink relationship of the plant governed the rate of B. cinerea progression along the petioles as well: it was more rapid when the source was restricted (by shading) and slower when the sink was restricted (by removal of flowers and small fruits). The possibility that sanitation of infected leaflets would reduce the incidence of stem rotting was examined in two experiments. In plots not treated with a fungicide, the sanitation treatment substantially decreased the incidence of stem lesions and this treatment was as effective as weekly application of chemical fungicides.