Effect of temperature on the antagonism between biocontrol agents and Cylindrocarpon destructans

Two in vitro experiments were carried out; the first experiment compared the growth at different temperature of a strain of Cylindrocarpon destructans isolated in Trentino region (Northern Italy) and the second experiment tested the antagonistic activity of several biocontrol agents against C. destructans. C. destructans was plated on potato dextrose agar in the Petri dishes and incubated at different temperatures (-1, 4, 20, 23, 25 and 27°C). The growth of C. destructans was evaluated. In the dual-culture test we verified the activity of five different biocontrol agents against C. destructans at 4, 23 and 27°C. The efficacy of the biocontrol agents in inhibiting pathogen growth was measured 2, 4, 9, 14, 19, 24, 29 days after inoculation. The pathogen grew at all tested temperatures even if at different speed. Trichoderma atroviride SC1 was the most effective antagonist of C. destructans in the dual-culture test at all tested temperatures