Trichoderma harzianum T39 preparation for biocontrol of plant diseases -: Control of Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Cladosporium fulvum

Isolate T39 of Trichoderma harzianum (TRICHODEX) is a commercial biocontrol agent. It controls Botrytis cinerea (grey mould) in greenhouse crops and in vineyards, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (white mould) in various greenhouse and Weld crops, Cladosporium fulvum (leaf mould) in tomato, and the powdery mildews Sphaerotheca fusca in cucurbits and Leveillula taurica in pepper. T. harzianum T39 was applied in vineyards and greenhouses as part of grey mould management programmes in alternation with chemical fungicides. In the present study, the effect of T39 on diseases of greenhouse crops was demonstrated. The biocontrol agent was applied in formulations containing two concentrations of the active ingredient, or in the presence of oil in cucumber and tomato greenhouses. Suppression of B. cinerea, C. fulvum and S. sclerotiorum was similar when T39 was applied at final active ingredient rates of 0.2 or 0.4 g l(-1), except for one sampling date in one experiment. The addition of JMS Stylet-Oil did not contribute to the control of the above mentioned diseases achieved by T39.