Growth inhibition of pathogenic fungi of fruit vegetables by a filamentous fungus which produces a volatile material

Abstract

A filamentous fungus which produces a volatile material isolated from the wheat phylloplane inhibited the occurrence of wheat powdery mildew. This fungus could not be identified because sporulation has not been observed so far, and therefore, it was given the temporary strain name Kyu-W63. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether the inhibitory effect by Kyu-W63 that was observed in wheat powdery mildew would also be observed in the case of pathogenic fungi of fruit vegetables. As a result, this fungus inhibited the growth of Botrytis cinerea, Didvmella brvoniae, Colletotricum fragariea and C. acutatum on culture medium. The fungus also inhibited the germination of spores of Sphaerotheca fuliginea on leaf disks of cucumber. Furthermore, it remarkably inhibited the growth of hyphae after germination. The fungus inhibited the expansion of lesions caused by B. cinerea on fruits of eggplant. This inhibitory effect became more remarkable as the amount of fungus applied increased. These results suggested the possibility of this fungus being used as an effective agent of biological control of diseases in the above-ground parts of fruit vegetables.