2.2. Endophytic biocontrol agents; most effective isolate, at the right time?

Abstract:

Co-evolved endophytic fungi, in particular Trichoderma spp., have been identified as prospective novel Classical biocontrol agents for the fungal diseases of cacao (Theobroma cacao) in Latin America; witches’ broom and frosty pod rot. Trichoderma ovalisporum, a recently identified new species, has shown potential in in-vitro and in-vivo studies as a biocontrol agent of Moniliophthora roreri, the causal agent of frosty pod rot of cacao. A number of isolates from different hosts have been collected from the Amazon basin. A field study was carried out in CATIE’s La Lola Field Station in Costa Rica to assess the ability of different strains of T. ovalisporum, and selected other Trichoderma species, to colonise and persist on cacao pods. Approximately 6 week old, hand pollinated and protected pods were sprayed with spores of the Trichoderma isolates. The pods were subsequently harvested and assessed for the presence of the Trichoderma species after 12 weeks. All Trichoderma isolates were re-isolated but to varying degrees. A study was also undertaken in Ecuador at EET–INIAP to compare the ability of a selected Trichoderma spp., T. ovalisporum, T. stromaticum and T. koningiopsis (another newly identified endophytic Trichoderma species) to colonise flower cushions and subsequently colonise flowers and persist to mature pods. Flower cushions were initially sampled to determine the presence of indigenous Trichoderma spp. in the tissues. The flower cushions were subsequently inoculated with either T. ovalisporum or T. koningiopsis. Isolations were made from flower cushions, emerging flowers to determine the presence of the applied …

Año de publicación:

2006

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