Selection of Clonostachys rosea isolates from Brazilian ecosystems effective in controlling Botrytis cinerea

Abstract

Clonostachys spp. were isolated from soil samples, and living and dead leaves of different plant species. Twelve isolates which sporulated well when cultured on agar media were compared regarding the capacity of establishing and suppressing Botrytis cinerea in leaves of Rosa hybrida ‘Sandra,’ Fragaria × ananassa ‘Dover,’ Lycopersicon esculentum ‘Kada,’ and Eucalyptus globulus. The isolates established in leaves of each plant species, but leaf area with conidiophores (SFCA) varied with the stage of leaf development. In rose, SFCA varied from 3.0 to 13.9% on senescing leaves and 3.4 to 10.0% on green leaves. SFCA was higher in young leaves of E. globulus and tomato (1.4–15.6% and 1.4–8.0%, respectively) than on senescing leaves (0.8–3.5% and 1.0–5.2%, respectively). In strawberry, SFCA varied from 0.7 to 6.2% on completely expanded leaves. Clonostachys rosea isolates reduced B. cinerea sporulation on leaves of rose (81.0–97.4% reduction), strawberry (87.6–96.8%), E. globulus (63.7–89.7%), and tomato (100% reduction). Four isolates of C. rosea were selected based on high levels of SFCA and suppression of B. cinerea. When leaf discs of the four hosts inoculated with these C. rosea isolates were challenged with isolates of B. cinerea of variable levels of aggressiveness, SFCA and pathogen suppression varied with the combination. Efficiency of C. rosea isolates in suppressing sporulation of B. cinerea varied among hosts but was always above 80%. The four selected Brazilian isolates of C. rosea are potential biocontrol agents for Botrytis blight management in Brazilian agricultural systems.