Biocontrol Science and Technology (2002) 12, 371-380

Mette Lübeck and Dan Funck Jensen (2002)
Monitoring of biocontrol agents based on Trichoderma strains following their application to glasshouse crops by combining dilution plating with UP-PCR fingerprinting
Biocontrol Science and Technology 12 (3), 371-380
Abstract: Universally primed (UP) PCR analysis was used to characterize strains of Trichoderma spp., which constitute the active ingredients of commercial products for biocontrol of phytopathogens. Several UP primers were able to generate distinct and reproducible fingerprints for each strain, allowing them to be differentiated from a collection of other Trichoderma spp. strains. In order to test whether the UP-PCR method in combination with dilution plating could be useful to detect and enumerate propagules of biocontrol strains of Trichoderma spp. when applied on a commercial scale, sampling was carried out in three commercial glasshouse operations. Dilution plating was carried out using a semi-selective medium and a number of the Trichoderma spp. recovered were subjected to UP-PCR analysis with one selected UP primer. The results showed that the method could be used to identify the isolates from the biocontrol products applied in the different glasshouses. Furthermore, it was found that a biocontrol strain also colonized an untreated bench in one of the glasshouses. The combined methods enable verification of the active ingredient concentration, facilitating monitoring establishment and spread of the Trichoderma strains.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Dan Funck Jensen, Mette Lübeck

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
identification/taxonomy
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Trichoderma harzianum (antagonist)
Trichoderma viride (antagonist)
Trichoderma virens (antagonist)