Most Trichoderma strains have no sexual stage but instead produce only asexual spores. Solubilization and sequestration of inorganic nutrients.Tolerance to stress through enhanced root and plant development.Several new general methods for both biocontrol and for causing enhancement of plant growth have recently been demonstrated and it is now clear that there must be hundreds of separate genes and gene products involved in these processes. grow and proliferate best when there are abundant healthy roots, they have evolved numerous mechanisms for both attack of other fungi and for enhancing plant and root growth. attack, parasitize and otherwise gain nutrition from other fungi. In addition to colonizing roots, Trichoderma spp. Used with permission of the American Phytopathological Society (Harman. 3: Colonization of root hairs of corn by the highly rhizosphere competent strain of T. However, most strains lack this ability.įig. Thus, if added as a seed treatment, the best strains will colonize root surfaces even when roots a meter or more below the soil surface and they can persist at useful numbers up to 18 months after application. Once they come into contact with roots, they colonize the root surface or cortex, depending on the strain. The most strongly rhizosphere competent strains can be added to soil or seeds by any method. Some strains are highly rhizosphere competent, i.e., able to colonize and grow on roots as they develop. They are favored by the presence of high levels of plant roots, which they colonize readily. The white areas do not contain spores, while the green areas are covered with dense masses of spores (conidia). 1: Cultures of Trichoderma harzianum strain T-22 (KRL-AG2) growing on potato dextrose agar. In soil, they frequently are the most prevalent culturable fungi.įig. are fungi that are present in nearly all soils and other diverse habitats. Harman, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456 ( Ascomycetes, Hypocreales, usually Hypocrea spp., are sexual anamorphs, this life stage is lacking or unknown for biocontrol strains)īy G. hamatum and other spp.ĭeuteromycetes, Moniliales (asexual classification system) One possibility to reduce application costs related with the use of EPN is the inoculative application to cause long term effects on pest populations.Trichoderma spp., including T. To reach these markets, the product costs for EPN will have to further decrease in the future. Novel adjuvants used to improve formulation of EPN have enabled the foliar application against Western Flower Thrips and Plutella xylostella. The development of insecticide resistance has opened another sector for EPN. These soil insect pests are potential targets for EPN. Since the introduction of the Western Corn Rootworm Diabrotica virgifera into Serbia in 1992, this pests as spread all over the Balkan Region and has reached Italy, France and Austria. Grubs, like Melolontha melolontha and other scarabaeidae cause damage in orchards and turf. Problems with soil insects are increasing. Today four companies produce EPN in liquid culture, offering 8 different nematode species. The cooperation between science, industry and extension within the EU COST Action 819 has supported the development of quality control methods. Progress in storage and formulation technology has resulted in high quality products which are more resistant to environmental extremes occurring during transportation to the user. The development of technology for mass production in liquid media significantly reduced the product costs and accelerated the introduction of nematode products in tree nurseries, ornamentals, strawberries, mushrooms, citrus and turf.
QUALITY CONTROL BIOCONTROL AGENTS REGISTRATION
Until today, they are exempted from registration in most European countries, the reason why SMEs were able to offer economically reasonable nematode-based products. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are exceptionally safe biocontrol agents. Besides microbial plant protection products that are currently in the process of re-registration, several microbial products have been registered or are in the process of registration, following the EU directive 91/414. Annual growth rates of up to 20% have been estimated. The sector with the highest turn-over is the market for beneficial invertebrates with a 55% share, followed by microbial agents with approximately 25%. In Europe total revenues in the biocontrol market have reached approximately 200 million Euros.