Application of Trichoderma spp. complex and biofumigation to control damping-offof Pinus radiata D. Don Caused by Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg and O'Donnell

Abstract

The damping-offof Pinus radiata D. Don by Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg and O'Donnell represents a limiting factor in nursery production, while seed contamination with the pathogen is one of the main pathways of the pathogen movement between areas. Chemical and physical treatments have been applied with encouraging results and some limitations. In the present study, biocontrol of damping-offby F. circinatum is proposed with Trichoderma spp. complex showing complementary antagonism and biofumigation with commercial Brassica carinata A. Braun pellets with biocidal effect. Experiments were conducted in vitro and in vivo using batches of P. radiata seeds and two F. circinatum isolates. Results were highly positive, showing an excellent efficacy of a combination of Trichoderma spp. in a single preparation to reduce significantly the mortality of P. radiata seedlings in seeds bed experiment. Biofumigation with B. carinata pellets also showed efficacy in controlling the F. circinatum inoculum and reducing seed mortality in inoculated seed batches although showing some phytotoxic effect.