Fusarium rot of onion and possible use of bioproduct

• Published in: Zbornik Matice Srpske za Prirodne Nauke Vol. 2008; no. 114; pp. 135 - 148
• Main Authors: Klokočar-Šmit Zlata, Lević Jelena, Maširević Stevan, Grozdanović-Varga Jelica, Vasić Mirjana, Aleksić Svjetlana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Matica srpska 01-01-2008
• Subjects: Allium cepa (onion); antagonism; bioproduct; Fusarium rot; Trichoderma asperellum
• ISSN: 0352-4906
• DOI: 10.2298/ZMSPN0814135K

Several species of Fusarium are causal agents of onion rot in field and storage. Most prevalent are F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae and F. solani, and recently F. proliferatum, a toxigenic species. Most frequently isolated fungi in our field experiments were F. solani and F. proliferatum with different pathogenicity. Certain differences in antagonistic activity of Trichoderma asperellum on different isolates of F. proliferatum and F. solani have been found in in vitro study in dual culture, expressed as a slower inhibition of growth of the former, and faster of the latter pathogen. Antagonistic abilities of species from genus Trichoderma (T. asperellum) are important, and have already been exploited in formulated biocontrol products in organic and conventional production, in order to prevent soil borne pathogens inducing fusarium wilt and rot. The importance of preventing onion infection by Fusarium spp., possible mycotoxin producers, has been underlined.