Selection of Isolates and Methods of Culturing Verticillium Chlamydosporium and Its Efficacy as a Biological Control Agent of Beet and Potato Cyst Nematodes

Abstract

Chlamydospores of Verticillium chlamydosporium produced on four different culture media showed no significant differences in pathogenicity to Heterodera schachtii. The most effective isolates of the fungus tested gave 75 % and 76 % control of first generation eggs of H. schachtii and Globodera pallida respectively. These tests were done in small pots of naturally infested field soil kept at a constant 18°C soil temperature and 20°C air temperature. In a separate test V. chlamydosporium caused significant infection of young G. rostochiensis females on roots, but this was not sufficient to reduce final populations.