Articles
Efficacy of biocontrol agents and biostimulants against strawberry crown and root rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani under greenhouse conditions
Article number
1427_4
Pages
25 – 32
Language
English
Abstract
Strawberry crown and root rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani is a serious threat to strawberry production worldwide and leads to significant yield losses.
The use of biological control agents and biostimulants is increasingly investigated in response to the need for sustainable disease control measures.
Three trials were conducted on potted ‘Elodì’ strawberry plants to evaluate the efficacy of experimental antagonists (Fusarium oxysporum MSA35 and Trichoderma asperellum FC80), isolated from suppressive soils, and biostimulants (microbial AMF and non-microbial GH), against R. solani in greenhouse.
The plants were planted in 12 L plastic pots filled with a peat substrate infested with the pathogen biomass, using 4 plants pot-1, with four replicates (16 plants treatment-1). Products applied alone (MSA35 and FC80 1×107 conidia mL-1, GH 0.1% and AMF 0.5 g L-1) or in combination were compared to tolclofos-methyl and to the marketable available products based on Trichoderma gamsii + T. asperellum and Glomus spp. + Trichoderma spp. + rhizobacteria.
Treatments were first applied by root immersion immediately before transplanting, and 15 days later, by soil drench.
Plants were monitored for symptoms development.
Under a severe disease pressure (DS60) in the untreated control plants, disease severity was significantly reduced by FC80 (38% efficacy), FC80+GH (42% efficacy), FC80+MSA35+GH (43% efficacy) and AMF+GH (40% efficacy). Results showed the impact of the type and timing of applications of biocontrol agents and biostimulant on R. solani crown and root rot.
Further studies are required to evaluate the effect of these products used alone or combined under field conditions.
The use of biological control agents and biostimulants is increasingly investigated in response to the need for sustainable disease control measures.
Three trials were conducted on potted ‘Elodì’ strawberry plants to evaluate the efficacy of experimental antagonists (Fusarium oxysporum MSA35 and Trichoderma asperellum FC80), isolated from suppressive soils, and biostimulants (microbial AMF and non-microbial GH), against R. solani in greenhouse.
The plants were planted in 12 L plastic pots filled with a peat substrate infested with the pathogen biomass, using 4 plants pot-1, with four replicates (16 plants treatment-1). Products applied alone (MSA35 and FC80 1×107 conidia mL-1, GH 0.1% and AMF 0.5 g L-1) or in combination were compared to tolclofos-methyl and to the marketable available products based on Trichoderma gamsii + T. asperellum and Glomus spp. + Trichoderma spp. + rhizobacteria.
Treatments were first applied by root immersion immediately before transplanting, and 15 days later, by soil drench.
Plants were monitored for symptoms development.
Under a severe disease pressure (DS60) in the untreated control plants, disease severity was significantly reduced by FC80 (38% efficacy), FC80+GH (42% efficacy), FC80+MSA35+GH (43% efficacy) and AMF+GH (40% efficacy). Results showed the impact of the type and timing of applications of biocontrol agents and biostimulant on R. solani crown and root rot.
Further studies are required to evaluate the effect of these products used alone or combined under field conditions.
Publication
Authors
P. Valfrè, G. Gilardi, I. Lundborg, M. Pugliese
Keywords
biological control, soilborne pathogens, antagonistic microorganisms, organic farming
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