Effect of temperature on antagonistic properties of Trichoderma species

Abstract

Isolates from different species-groups of Trichoderma were tested for growth, production of non-volatile inhibitors, volatile inhibitors and hyphal interaction against Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr. and Mucor mucedo Fr. at 5, 10 and 20 °C. Most isolates tested were antagonistic against the test fungi. Inhibition of growth by non-volatile metabolites from Trichoderma species was most severe at the lowest temperature, whereas more isolates produced volatile inhibitors at higher temperatures. No effect of temperature was observed on the hyphal interaction. Contrary to a previous report it was shown that carbon dioxide did not account for the inhibition by the volatile component.