Cladobotryum mycophilum as Potential Biocontrol Agent

Mila Santos,Brenda Sánchez-Montesinos,Francisco J Gea,Fernando Diánez,Alejandro Moreno-Gavíra

doi:10.3390/agronomy9120891

Mila Santos, Brenda Sánchez-Montesinos + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9120891

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Journal: Agronomy	Publication Date: Dec 15, 2019
Citations: 5	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Almería

Abstract

A study was conducted to explore the efficacy of potential biocontrol agent Cladobotryum mycophilum against different phytopathogenic fungi. The growth rates of 24 isolates of C. mycophilum were determined, and their antagonistic activity was analysed in vitro and in vivo against Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum, Fusarium solani, Phytophthora parasitica, Phytophthora capsici, Pythium aphanidermatum and Mycosphaerella melonis. Most isolates grow rapidly, reaching the opposite end of the Petri dish within 72–96 h. Under dual-culture assays, C. mycophilum showed antagonistic activity in vitro against all phytopathogenic fungi tested, with mycelial growth inhibition ranging from 30 to 90% against all the different phytopathogens tested. Similarly, of all the selected isolates, CL60A, CL17A and CL18A significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the disease incidence and severity in the plant assays compared to the controls for the different pathosystems studied. Based on these results, we conclude that C. mycophilum can be considered as a potential biological control agent in agriculture. This is the first study of Cladobotryum mycophilum as a biological control agent for different diseases caused by highly relevant phytopathogens in horticulture.

Highlights

Cobweb, caused by a mycopathogenic fungus (Oudem.) W
C. mycophilum can be considered as a potential biological control agent in agriculture. This is the first study of Cladobotryum mycophilum as a biological control agent for different diseases caused by highly relevant phytopathogens in horticulture
The findings showed that the three Cladobotryum species had an antagonistic effect on the pathogens studied, with no harm to plants or fruits, highlighting a fungicidal effect on filtered extracts of the three antagonistic isolates

Summary

Introduction

Cobweb, caused by a mycopathogenic fungus (Oudem.) W. Hypomyces odoratus G.R.W. Arnold), is one of the most serious diseases affecting white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach) cultures worldwide [1,2,3,4]. Its occurrence generally reduces the production and quality, and generates economic losses because of mainly cap spotting, the reduction of crop surface and the necessity of early crop termination when the disease becomes epidemic [5]. The main symptoms of cobweb are characterised by the occurrence of a white fluffy mycelium over the surface of the casing layer and attacks on primordia and developing fruitbodies. The pathogen can cause two types of cap spotting that may even appear post-harvest, affecting the profitability of the product [6]. C. mycophilum has been identified as the causal agent of cobweb in cultivated king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii (DC.: Fr.) Quél.) in Spain and Korea [7,8,9]

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