%0 Research article
%T In vitro and in vivo interactions between Trichoderma viride and Fusarium circinatum
%A Martínez-Álvarez, Pablo
%A Alves-Santos, Fernando Manuel
%A Diez, Julio Javier
%D 2012
%J Silva Fennica
%V 46
%N 3
%R doi:10.14214/sf.42
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/42
%X Fusarium circinatum, a fungus that causes pitch canker disease, has been  present in Europe since at least 2003, when it was detected in northern  Spain and found to be producing severe damage in tree nurseries and  pine plantations. In this study, we tested a method of biological  control of the disease with Trichoderma viride, a fungal species  successfully used against many other pathogens. In vitro and in vivo  assays were carried out to test the efficacy of this antagonist in  controlling F. circinatum. The T. viride isolate exerted a significant  effect on the growth of F. circinatum in the in vitro assay, reducing  the length of the pathogen colony by half. However, although we tested  three different concentrations of the T. viride spore solution, no clear  conclusions were obtained with regard to the effects on the Pinus  radiata seedlings. To our knowledge, this is the first study carried out  with the aim of using Trichoderma spp. to control pitch canker disease.