Evaluation of selected fungal isolates for the control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum using cabbage pot bioassays

Abstract

Nine fungal isolates were assayed for their ability to reduce mycelial infection of cabbage by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in three pot bioassays In all cases mycelial infection by S sclerotiorum was low However the mycelial inoculum converted into sclerotia which underwent carpogenic germination to produce apothecia In the first pot bioassay four fungal isolates (T hamatum LU594 LU593 and LU592 and T rossicum LU596) reduced the percentage of pots where apothecia were produced Both the number of apothecia produced per pot and the number of pots showing apothecial production were reduced by T hamatum LU593 in the second pot bioassay (by 86 and 76 respectively) In the third bioassay Coniothyrium minitans LU112 was found to completely inhibit apothecial production and T hamatum LU593 reduced both the number of pots with apothecia (by 48) and the total number of apothecia produced per pot (by 72) Both C minitans LU112 and T hamatum LU593 showed the greatest potential for controlling S sclerotiorum disease and these will be tested further in field trials