Most studies on Trichoderma-based BCA have only shown the effect of culture conditions on the high conidia yield regardless of conidium quality. This study is the first report on conidium quality affected by principal culture conditions for Trichoderma biological control formulations.

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Th is study investigated the ability of ten Trichoderma isolates to control the fusarium wilt pathogen of tomato Fusarium oxysporum f sp lycopersici as well as the eff ect of these isolates on tomato plant growth in the presence and absence of the pathogen The isolates were obtained from the Lincoln BioProtection Research Centre Culture Collection and were inoculated into seed raising mix (05 w/w) in two glasshouse studies Two Trichoderma isolates significantly (P

widely used as biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters. Endophytic colonisation of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) by T. atroviride strains was studied in laboratory, greenhouse and field experiments. Four strains of T. atroviride were inoculated into in vitro agar cultures or potting mix with ryegrass seeds for colonisation studies. The strains were also produced as prill or granule formulations for application in the field experiment. Microscopy was used to observe fungal structures in plant tissue segments from pot-or field-grown plants. Segments were also surface sterilised and placed onto Trichoderma selective media. Fungal colonies recovered were verified as T. atroviride by sequencing the tef1 gene. No endophytic colonisation occurred in any non-inoculated plants, and no Trichoderma endophytic colonisation was observed in field-grown plants. However, microscopy revealed fungal hyphae and reproductive structures characteristic of Trichoderma in root and stem sheath tissues of inoculated plants from in vitro cultures and pots. These results were verified by sequencing the tef1 gene. This study has demonstrated endophytic colonisation of ryegrass by T. atroviride strains, which may be related to beneficial effects on plant growth and disease control.

A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 2 Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln] at 09:05 31 December 2015 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 3 Evaluation of Paenibacillus spp. isolates for the biological control of black rot in Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) Abstract The ability of isolates of Paenibacillus spp. to protect Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) against the black rot pathogen, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), was evaluated. Twenty-four isolates of Paenibacillus spp., isolated from New Zealand-grown brassica hosts or soil, were evaluated for in vitro antagonism toward six Xcc isolates. Seven Paenibacillus spp. isolates with different levels of in vitro suppressive activity against Xcc were screened in pot experiments for their capacity to reduce black rot symptoms on cabbage. Two Paenibacillus isolates (P10 and P16) exhibited biocontrol activity against Xcc, and four isolates (P1, P6, P9, and P24) reduced cabbage seed germination and seedling emergence. The dependence of bioactivity on inoculum rate was investigated with three Paenibacillus isolates (P6,P10, and P16) at three different concentrations (5 × 10 8 , 5 × 10 9 and 5 × 10 10 CFU ml -1 ). Negative effects on seedling emergence were detected with isolate P6 at concentrations ≥5 × 10 9 CFU ml -1 . All three isolates applied at the three concentrations reduced black rot symptoms on the cotyledons and true leaves. There was poor or no relationship between the inhibitory effect of Paenibacillus spp.isolates on the growth of Xcc in vitro, and their biocontrol activity in vivo.Paenibacillus isolate P16 was identified as a potential biological control of black rot in cabbage.