Mexican Journal
of Phytopathology

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• Phytopathological note

In vitro antagonism of Clonostachys sp. against disease associated fungi in economically important crops

By María Emilia Belingheri Lagunes, Rosario Medel Ortiz*, Alejandro Salinas Castro, Dora Trejo Aguilar

* Corresponding Author. Email: / Institution: Universidad Veracruzana

Accepted: 18/January/2024 – Published: 07/June/2024 – DOI: https://doi.org/10.18781/R.MEX.FIT.2401-1

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Abstract Background/Objective. The objective of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antagonistic capacity of a strain of Clonostachys sp. against five species of fungi associated with diseases in economically important crops.

Materials and Methods. Five fungal species associated with crop diseases were tested: Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum kahawae, C. musae, Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani. Dual cultures were performed with five replicates plus controls. Growth was recorded every 24 hours, until 360 hours were completed. Interactions were determined, the degree of antagonism and the percentage of colonization was calculated. Statistical analyses were performed with a generalized linear model (GLM).

Results. All species evaluated showed antagonism of the overgrowth type. The degree of antagonism was classified into three classes, with class two being present in three of the species. The percentage of colonization was 100% at 216 h for three of the species and 264 h for the other two. There was no significant difference in the percentage of colonization (p =0.0073), but there was a significant difference in the time of invasion (p< 0.0001).

Conclusion. Dual assays to test the antagonistic effect in vitro form the basis for the selection of candidates for biological control of fungi.

Keywords: antagonism, biological control, mycoparasites

Figure 1. in vitro antagonism of Clonostachys sp. (Csp.) against Alternaria alternata (Aa). A: After 24 hours of evaluation. B. 120 hours of evaluation. C. 216 hours of evaluation. D. 360 hours of evaluation.

Figure 2. in vitro antagonism of Clonostachys sp. (Csp.) against Colletotrichum kahawae (Ck) and Colletotrichum musae (Cm). A-D) Colletotrichum kahawae (Ck). A: 24 hours after evaluation. B: 192 hours of evaluation. C: 360 hours of evaluation. D: reverse Petri dish at 360 hours of evaluation. E-H) Colletotrichum musae (Cm) against Clonostachys sp. (Csp.). E: 24 hours of evaluation. F: 192 hours of evaluation. G: 360 hours of evaluation. H: Conidiophores of Clonostachys sp. growing on acervuli of C. musae

Figure 2. in vitro antagonism of Clonostachys sp. against Fusarium spp. A-D) Fusarium solani (Fs) against Clonostachys sp. (Csp.) A: after 24 hours of evaluation. B: at 96 hours of evaluation. C: at 360 hours of evaluation. D: masses of aqueous conidiophores at the margin of Clonostachys sp. E-H) Fusarium oxysporum (Fo) against Clonostachys sp. (Csp.) E: 24 hours of evaluation. F: 144 hours of evaluation. G: 192 hours of evaluation. H: 360 hours of evaluation

Table 1. Qualitative scale of the degree of antagonism of Clonostachys sp. and the evaluated fungi associated to diseases.

Table 2. Percentage of growth of Clonostachys sp. against the fungi.