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Variability in Progeny From Protoplast Fusions Between Trichoderma Virens and Other Trichoderma Species

L.E. Hanson and C.R. Howell


 
ABSTRACT

Several Trichoderma virens (Gliocladium virens) strains have been found with good biocontrol activity against Rhizoctonia solani on cotton seedlings. However, these strains lack several characteristics required to be commercially viable. Many of these characteristics are found in other Trichoderma species which are not effective as biocontrol agents on cotton. Protoplast fusion has been used in several Trichoderma species to incorporate desirable characteristics and improve biological control efficacy. However, protoplast fusions have not been performed with T. virens. We used a highly effective biological control strain of T. virens in protoplast fusions with strains of T. harzianum and T. koningii in an effort to develop improved biological control strains. Nine isolates were obtained which were stable through multiple transfers. Of five fusants between T. virens and T. koningii, three were T. koningii and two were T. virens. Two of the three T. koningii fusants had significantly greater biological control activity on cotton than the T. koningii parent and all three fusants had acquired resistance to the fungicide Maxim (fludioxonil). One of the two T. virens fusants was reduced in biological control activity compared to the T. virens parent. The T. virens and T. harzianum fusions yielded two isolate of each species. The two T. harzianum fusants did not differ significantly from the T. harzianum parent in biological control activity. Both of the T. virens fusants were still effective biological control agents, but differed from the parent in the production of secondary metabolites. These results indicate that protoplast fusions can be performed using T. virens and that a variety of progeny can be isolated from these fusions. The isolates above are being tested for their ability to remain viable and effective in storage. Further fusions are being performed to incorporate other characteristics into isolates.



Reprinted from Proceedings of the 1998 Beltwide Cotton Conferences pg. 149
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998