<i>Trichoderma</i> Species Problematic to the Commercial Production of <i>Pleurotus</i> in Italy: Characterization, Identification, and Methods of Control
2023
Nadia Lombardi | Angela Pironti | Gelsomina Manganiello | Roberta Marra | Francesco Vinale | Stefania Vitale | Matteo Lorito | Sheridan Lois Woo
Nine isolates of <i>Trichoderma</i> were obtained from the diverse phases of compost preparation and the production of different commercial varieties of oyster mushrooms <i>Pleurotus</i> spp. with the apparent presence of green mould disease. The isolates were morphologically and genetically characterized. Molecular fingerprinting indicated that the isolates belonged to the species <i>T. pleuroticola</i> and <i>T. harzianum</i>. In order to identify control measures, changes in temperature, pH, and application of fungicides were tested on the present isolates, using known <i>Trichoderma</i> biocontrol strains as a reference. Fungicide effects on the growth of <i>Pleurotus</i> isolates were also assessed. The optimal growth temperatures were 25 °C for <i>Trichoderma</i> isolates and 28 °C for <i>Pleurotus</i> isolates, and <i>Trichoderma</i> always grew faster than <i>Pleurotus</i>. In particular, a reduction of about 30% was recorded for some of the <i>Trichoderma</i> isolates when comparing the colony growth at 25 and 28 °C. <i>Trichoderma</i> isolates developed well within a wide pH range, with the best growth occurring between pH 5 and 7, whereas <i>Pleurotus</i> preferred more alkaline conditions (pH 8 to 9). Prochloraz and metrafenone were found to inhibit <i>Trichoderma</i> growth with different dose responses that did not affect the growth of <i>Pleurotus</i> spp. In particular, metrafenone was the most effective active ingredient that inhibited the majority of the <i>Trichoderma</i> isolates (1–25% growth reduction).
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