Abstract
Efficacy of Trichoderma spp. to reduce sunflower head rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was evaluated in the field. A mixture of six isolates, including Trichoderma koningii, T. aureoviride and T. longibrachiatum, was tested in five field trials at Balcarce, Argentina. Trichoderma formulation (TF) included Trichoderma conidia and viable hyphal fragments, industrial talc and milled corn kernels. Honeybees (Apis mellifera) were used to disperse TF for six weeks from the onset of flowering. Two days after the first TF delivery, sunflower heads were inoculated with S. sclerotiorum ascospores. When 100 g TF was taken by honeybees in a 10‐h per day period, head rot incidence was significantly reduced. This approach was successful in reducing disease incidence until physiological maturity of the crop, in environments highly conducive to head‐rot development.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call