Biological Control of <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> on Greenhouse Lettuce Using <i>Trichoderma koningiopsis</i> Agg
2025
Snježana Topolovec-Pintarić | Ana Maria Kovaček | Olga Malev | Ivana Kušan | Neven Matočec | Ana Pošta | Lucia Pole | Armin Mešić
The lettuce drop or white mold is an economically important disease as the causal fungus <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> can infect the lettuce at any stage of plant development. Polyphagous nature of <i>S. sclerotiorum</i>, the longevity of soil-borne sclerotia and air-borne ascospores makes the control difficult. Chemical fungicides are available only for foliar application against infections by ascospores so, the development of bio-control is of great importance. We tested antagonism of native isolate <i>T. koningiopsis</i> agg. (Hypocreales) (STP8) under laboratory and greenhouse environments. In vitro tests showed excellent STP8 antagonisms to <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> evidencing hyperparasitic activity on mycelia and sclerotia as well as antibiosis. The sclerotia were completely degraded after two months. In the greenhouse, infection of lettuce with <i>S. sclerotiorum</i> was reduced by treating the seedlings with an STP8 spore suspension. Uninfected plants treated with STP8 were of the best quality based on morphological parameters, confirming the ability of STP8 to promote lettuce growth. Even the infected lettuce treated with STP8 were healthier and in better condition than the control lettuce, suggesting that STP8 was also enhancing plant defense system.
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