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Diversity of soil-dwelling Trichoderma in Colombia and their potential as biocontrol agents against the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary

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Abstract

Twenty-one isolates of Trichoderma spp. were collected from eight states in Colombia and characterized based on the 5′ end of the translation elongation factor-1α (EF1-α1) gene and RNA polymerase II gene encoding the second largest protein subunit (RPB2) by using mixed primers. Seven species of soil-dwelling Trichoderma were found: T. atroviride, T. koningiopsis, T. asperellum, T. spirale, T. harzianum, T. brevicompactum and T. longibrachiatum. Species identifications based on the EF1-α1 gene were consistent with those obtained from the RPB2 gene. Phylogenetic analyses with high bootstrap values supported the validity of the identification of all isolates. These results suggest that using the combination of the genes EF1-α1 and RPB2 is highly reliable for molecular characterization of Trichoderma species. Trichoderma asperellum Th034, T. atroviride Th002 and T. harzianum Th203 prevented germination of more than 70 % of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in bioassay tests and are promising biological control agents. No relationship between mycelium growth rate and parasitism level was found.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Víctor Núñez, Dr. Carolina González, Mr. Jhon Pablo Vargs and various colleagues at the Biological Control Laboratory and Plant Genetics Molecular Laboratory in Corpoica for their help and kindness. M.D. is appreciative of helpful advice from Dr. Masuya Hayato of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute in Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology and Bioindustry Center, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (Corpoica), Kilómetro 14 Vía Mosquera, Cundinamarca, 240142, Colombia

    Alexander Smith, Camilo A. Beltrán, Manabu Kusunoki, Alba M. Cotes & Michihito Deguchi

  2. Faculty of Regional Environment Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Keiichi Motohashi

  3. Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (Corpoica), Palmira, Calle 23, Carrera 37, Continuo al Penal, Palmira, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

    Takumasa Kondo

  4. Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Plantas, BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Avenida Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n Campus Universitário, Viçosa, MG, 36570-000, Brazil

    Michihito Deguchi

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  1. Alexander Smith
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  2. Camilo A. Beltrán
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Correspondence to Michihito Deguchi.

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Smith, A., Beltrán, C.A., Kusunoki, M. et al. Diversity of soil-dwelling Trichoderma in Colombia and their potential as biocontrol agents against the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary. J Gen Plant Pathol 79, 74–85 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10327-012-0419-1

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