Mycoparasitic evaluation of native strains of Trichoderma spp. against Verticillium dahliae from the province of Catamarca (Argentinian Republic)

The capacity as a biological control agent is due to multiple mechanisms, such as competition for nutrients, for space and myco-parasitism. While the fungus of the Trichoderma genus has several advantages as a Biological Control Agent; it takes nutrients from the fungi that it degrades and from the organic matter helping its decomposition. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine through microcultures the mycoparasitic capacity of native strains of Trichoderma spp. against Verticillum dahliae, etiological agent of olive verticillium wilt. The action and type of parasitism of three native strains of Trichoderma against the phytopathogen V. dahliae was determined using the microculture technique. A trial with a completely randomized design with a 3x2x2 factorial arrangement (3 antagonists x 2 pH levels x 2 lighting levels) was performed. The capacity of each native strain of Trichoderma to exert different types of parasitism under the established conditions was determined. This being considered of great interest since the biocontrol of the phytopathogen is evidenced through physical contact with the native strain of Trichoderma. Therefore, it is of great importance to continue the antagonism studies of different strains of Trichoderma to determine the efficiency of the control of V. dahliae.