Biological control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in lettuce by Fusarium lateritium

Abstract

Fusarium lateritium inhibited ascospore germination and mycelial growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in various agar media. Although the inhibition zones produced by F. lateritium were most extensive at 20°C, they were still substantial at 5 and 30°C. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum requires organic matter on the soil surface for subsequent infection of lettuce stems in pots. The introduction of F. lateritium into such pots, 7 h before introducing S. sclerotiorum, gave protection. In infected pots with organic matter, 99% of plants were infected after 6 d, whereas only 5% were infected when F. lateritium was introduced. After 14 d these values increased to 100 and 33%, respectively.