Biocontrol of Pythium tracheiphilum in Chinese Cabbage by Clonostachys rosea under Field Conditions

Abstract

Control of leaf and head rot of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis), caused by Pythium tracheiphilum, was obtained by Clonostachys rosea (isolate IK726) in field trials conducted in 1995 and 1999 on naturally infested land in a commercial crop in Denmark. A significant 2-3-fold disease reduction was obtained at an application rate of 108-109 conidia m−2 (high application rate) in both years, but not at a 10-fold reduced rate in 1999. Disease reduction by Trichoderma harzianum (Supresivit) was almost significant at the high application rate (1 g product m−2 corresponding to 7×109 colony forming units (CFUs) m−2) in both years, but not at a 10-fold reduced rate applied in 1999. In both 1995 and 1999 trials, the percentage of marketable heads increased significantly by 10% following a full application rate of C. rosea. Supresivit applied at the full application rate gave a significant 13% yield improvement in 1995 but not in 1999. No yield improvement was found when the two agents were applied at 10-fold reduced rates. A Danish T. harzianum isolate significantly increased yield by 13% in 1995, but gave no disease control. Plant growth promotion may have been responsible for yield improvements obtained by Supresivit and the Danish isolate of T. harzianum. The 1995 trial also evaluated the products Binab T (T. harzianum+T. polysporum), Mycostop (Streptomyces griseoviridis), Polyversum (P. oligandrum) and Aliette (fosetyl-Al) and Danish isolates of P. oligandrum (2) and T. virens (1), none of which gave disease control or yield effects.