Inhibition of Sclerotinia Minor by Penicillium Citrinum; a Potential Biological Control Agent

Abstract

Many soilborne fungi which cause important plant diseases form sclerotia enabling them to survive in soil for long periods. Control of diseases caused by such fungi depends usually on eradication, or marked reduction of the population of sclerotia in soil. Sclerotia, however, are difficult to eliminate from soil because they are well adapted to survive under adverse environmental conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of one of many natural antagonists, in the soil, Penicillium citrinum Thom, as an inhibitor of mycelial growth and sclerotia! germination of Sclerotinia minor. The potential of using this antagonist to inhibit other soilborne pathogens was also explored.