FEMS Microbiology Ecology (2009) 69, 266-273

Hui Sun, Kari Korhonen, Jarkko Hantula, Frederick O. Asiegbu and Risto Kasanen (2009)
Use of a breeding approach for improving biocontrol efficacy of Phlebiopsis gigantea strains against Heterobasidion infection of Norway spruce stumps
FEMS Microbiology Ecology 69 (2), 266-273
Abstract: Sixty-four wild heterokaryotic isolates of Phlebiopsis gigantea were analysed for asexual spore production, growth rate and competitive ability against Heterobasidion in vitro, as well as growth rate in Norway spruce wood. These P. gigantea traits were considered important for controlling infection of Norway spruce stumps by spores of Heterobasidion spp. Ten most promising P. gigantea isolates were crossed with each other and 172 F₁ progeny heterokaryons were analysed for the above-mentioned traits. Thirteen most promising progeny heterokaryons were selected and their biocontrol ability against infection by Heterobasidion was compared with the parental isolates in stem pieces of Norway spruce. The results indicated that the progeny strains had generally better traits and control efficacy than the parental strains. The genetic effects accounted for a part of the variations between progeny and parental strains. This further suggests that there is a potential to improve the biocontrol properties of P. gigantea through breeding.
(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): Hui Sun, Frederick O. Asiegbu, Jarkko Hantula, Kari Korhonen

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Heterobasidion (genus)	Spruce (Picea)
Phlebiopsis gigantea (antagonist)	Heterobasidion (genus)	Spruce (Picea)