Acta Agronomica Hungarica (1999) 47, 397-403
C.I. Mónaco, A.I. Nico, I. Mitidieri and H.E. Alippi (1999)
Saprobic fungi inhabiting tomato phylloplane as possible antagonists of Alternaria solani
Acta Agronomica Hungarica 47 (4), 397-403
Abstract: The effect of saprobic fungi inhabiting the tomato phylloplane on the expression of tomato early blight (caused by Altemaria solani) was evaluated.
Artifical inoculation with the pathogen and the antagonists was carried out in a commercial greenhouse on four-month-old tomato plants (cv. Parador, Asgrow Seeds, Co.). Inoculation with the antagonist was made an hour before inoculation with the pathogen.
Inoculum of saprobic fungi was produced on potato-dextrose agar (PDA). The concentration of the microorganism propagules was diluted to 107 c.f.u./ml. Altemaria solani inoculum was obtained on cornmeal agar and the concentration used for the inoculation was 105 c.f.u./ml.
A disease scale was established and the percentage of infection was assessed at 21, 44 and 86 days from the beginning of the assay. A disease progress curve was fitted to the values and the area under, the disease progress curve (AUDPC) and the epidemic rate were calculated. From the statistical analysis of these parameters it could be concluded that Nigrospora spp., Penicillium sp. b, Chaetomium globosum, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Trichoderma polysporum might be potential biological control agents of Alternaria solani.
Although the practical application of this method is difficult, it may provide several potential benefits in the reduction of pollution and the enhancement of the biological balance stability.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Andrés I. Nico
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
environment - cropping system/rotation
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection
