Biocontrol of Fusarium spp. with Trichoderma spp. and growth promotion in soybean seedlings

Abstract

Pathogenicity and biocontrol of Fusarium oxysporum (F1s, F3s and F4s) and F. proliferatum (F2s) by Trichoderma koningiopsis (T1s and T3s), T. tomentosum (T2s and T4s) and T. asperellum (T5s) was evaluated. In vitro tests, direct confrontation, and in vivo, substrate inoculation with Fusarium spp. and Trichoderma spp., isolated or combined, were conducted under controlled conditions. The ability of Fusarium spp. cause damping off in seedlings of soybean cv. FT-Estrela, was evaluated in vivo in treatments that received only inoculum of Fusarium spp. Trichoderma spp. isolates promoted root growth and increased the fresh and dry weight of soybean seedlings. Fusarium spp. isolates F1s and F4s were the most aggressive, with 100 and 75% of damping off, respectively. Some combinations with Trichoderma spp. potentiated the pathogenicity of F1s and F3s, with 100 and 75% of damping off, respectively. The Trichoderma spp. can control Fusarium spp. evaluated in this study.