Systemically induced resistance against disease of wheat caused by Fusarium graminearum

Abstract

Abstract The endophytic fungi Simplicillium lamellicola and Clonostachys rosea were assayed for their ability to induce resistance in wheat against disease caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe in growth room and outdoor tests. Agar inoculum of the endophytes was applied 4 days before agar inoculum of F. graminearum was applied to adjacent leaves. Simplicillium lamellicola or C. rosea treatments applied on one leaf significantly reduced the disease on another leaf by between 68 and 70% in growth room tests at 11 days post pathogen inoculation and by between 43 and 49% in outdoor tests at 9 days after inoculation compared to pathogen-inoculated controls with no biocontrols. Simplicillium lamellicola is a promising biocontrol agent since it systemically induced disease resistance in wheat against Fusarium graminearum. Future work is needed to investigate the mode of action of the defence responses and the proper formulation and application of this biocontrol agent.