Lycopene in tomatoes: chemical and physical properties affected by food processing

Lycopene is the pigment principally responsible for the characteristic deep-red color of ripe tomato fruits and tomato products. It has attracted attention due to its biological and physicochemical properties, especially related to its effects as a natural antioxidant. Although it has no provitamin A activity, lycopene does exhibit a physical quenching rate constant with singlet oxygen almost twice as high as that of beta-carotene. This makes its presence in the diet of considerable interest. Increasing clinical evidence supports the role of lycopene as a micronutrient with important health benefits, because it appears to provide protection against a broad range of epithelial cancers. Tomatoes and related tomato products are the major source of lycopene compounds, and are also considered an important source of carotenoids in the human diet. Undesirable degradation of lycopene not only affects the sensory quality of the final products, but also the health benefit of tomato-based foods for the human body. Lycopene in fresh tomato fruits occurs essentially in the all-trans configuration. The main causes of tomato lycopene degradation during processing are isomerization and oxidation. Isomerization converts all-trans isomers to cis-isomers due to additional energy input and results in an unstable, energy-rich station. Determination of the degree of lycopene isomerization during processing would provide a measure of the potential health benefits of tomato-based foods. Thermal processing (bleaching, retorting, and freezing processes) generally cause some loss of lycopene in tomato-based foods. Heat induces isomerization of the all-trans to cis forms. The cis-isomers increase with temperature and processing time. In general, dehydrated and powdered tomatoes have poor lycopene stability unless carefully processed and promptly placed in a hermetically sealed and inert atmosphere for storage. A significant increase in the cis-isomers with a simultaneous decrease in the all-trans isomers can be observed in the dehydrated tomato samples using the different dehydration methods. Frozen foods and heat-sterilized foods exhibit excellent lycopene stability throughout their normal temperature storage shelf life. Lycopene bioavailability (absorption) can be influenced by many factors. The bioavailability of cis-isomers in food is higher than that of all-trans isomers. Lycopene bioavailability in processed tomato products is higher than in unprocessed fresh tomatoes. The composition and structure of the food also have an impact on the bioavailability of lycopene and may affect the release of lycopene from the tomato tissue matrix. Food processing may improve lycopene bioavailability by breaking down cell walls, which weakens the bonding forces between lycopene and tissue matrix, thus making lycopene more accessible and enhancing the cis-isomerization. More information on lycopene bioavailability, however, is needed. The pharmacokinetic properties of lycopene remain particularly poorly understood. Further research on the bioavalability, pharmacology, biochemistry, and physiology must be done to reveal the mechanism of lycopene in human diet, and the in vivo metabolism of lycopene. Consumer demand for healthy food products provides an opportunity to develop lycopene-rich food as new functional foods, as well as food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade lycopene as new nutraceutical products. An industrial scale, environmentally friendly lycopene extraction and purification procedure with minimal loss of bioactivities is highly desirable for the foods, feed, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. High-quality lycopene products that meet food safety regulations will offer potential benefits to the food industry.     

木霉防治灰霉病的研究进展

植物病害的生物防治是降低化学农药用量、减少环境污染的一种有效方式,木霉是现在普遍应用且生防潜力巨大的灰霉病防治真菌。目前,已经对防治灰霉的木霉菌株的筛选、应用及生防机制进行了大量而深入的研究。木霉的生防机制分为直接生防机制和间接生防机制,前者主要指木霉与灰霉病菌直接作用过程中所涉及的重寄生、抗生和营养竞争,后者是木霉通过诱导植物产生系统抗性来防治灰霉。本文对木霉直接防治灰霉病以及诱导植物产生系统抗性防治灰霉病所涉及的互作模式、信号传导途径以及所引起的防御反应进行综述,旨在通过机制的深入研究能够找到进一步提高木霉生防效果的技术方案。     

木霉对草酸耐受和消除作用的初步分析

【目的】草酸(Oxalic acid,OA)是灰霉菌(Botrytis cinerea)等植物致病菌的致病因子,一些木霉(Trichoderma spp.)生防菌可消除草酸并降低植物发病率,但其消除草酸防治病害的途径和机制尚未研究透彻。【方法】首先从42株木霉菌株中筛选出一株在30 mmol/L草酸胁迫下耐受性最强的哈茨木霉T.harzianum LTR-2,通过形态学方法观察和原位分析了不同浓度草酸胁迫下LTR-2的发育特征变化,并测定了草酸消除水平、滤液p H和菌丝干重,分析了LTR-2在草酸为唯一碳源的生长情况。通过Real-time PCR分析了OXDC基因LTR_4445在草酸处理下的表达水平。【结果】在PDA固体培养基中,25°C半光照条件下培养5 d,在草酸浓度为50-80 mmol/L时,LTR-2可存活,但无正常菌落形态;在30-50 mmol/L浓度下,LTR-2先萌发厚垣孢子,而后再次萌发菌丝形成菌落;在30 mmol/L浓度下,LTR-2发育正常,仅生长速度减缓。25°C、160 r/min振荡培养5 d,LTR-2可消除草酸。在20 mmol/L浓度时,草酸消除率最高,为66.50%;10 mmol/L浓度中的消除率次之,为55.06%。草酸浓度50 mmol/L时,消除能力下降为6.75%-38.94%。相应地,培养液p H被不同程度地提高,在10、20 mmol/L草酸浓度下提高的幅度更大。当草酸浓度20 mmol/L时,木霉的菌丝干重有不同程度的提高。将草酸作为唯一碳源进行液体培养5 d时,在10、20 mmol/L浓度下,LTR-2可形成肉眼可见的绿色菌丝球,但高于50 mmol/L条件下无法生长。草酸处理下,LTR_4445表达水平上调。【结论】通过分析LTR-2在草酸胁迫条件下的形态特征变化及消除草酸的特性,暗示在木霉消除草酸作用中除了已知的草酸降解代谢途径,还存在响应草酸胁迫模式的转变、将草酸作为前体转化为营养物质的途径等其他消除途径。     

Trichoderma asperelloides antagonism to nine Sclerotinia sclerotiorum strains and biological control of white mold disease in soybean plants

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is an important plant pathogen with worldwide distribution that causes severe economic losses of various agricultural crops such as soybean. This fungus is normally controlled with synthetic chemical fungicides that pose risks to the environment, and can be harmful to human health, and they can also induce resistance in pests. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of Trichoderma asperelloides as a biocontrol agent towards white mold disease on soybeans crops. The antagonism of two strains of T. asperelloides (T25 and T42) isolated from soil samples was determined in-vitro by dual-culture confrontation testing on nine S. sclerotiorum strains obtained from sclerotia collected on diseased soybean plants. The mycelial growth and inhibition of carpogenic and ascospore germination by T. asperelloides extracts, as well as the efficacy of these on white mold control in soybeans were evaluated. Both strains of T. asperelloides exhibited high potential of antagonism. Methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of the two T. asperelloides strains showed excellent growth inhibition (60–100%) on all of the pathogens tested. The ethyl acetate extracts of both T. asperelloides strains exhibited the highest efficacy against carpogenic germination, decreasing by 20–30% the number of ascospores per apothecium. Strains of T. asperelloides tested were more efficient in controlling white mold than two commercial products made from Trichoderma harzianum. The new strains of T. asperelloides have potential for successful biological control of white mold disease of soybean crops in the field.     

Management of powdery mildew and gray mold of cucumber by Trichoderma harzianum T39 and Ampelomyces quisqualis AQ10

Two biocontrol preparations were tested for their ability to control Sphaerotheca fusca and Botrytis cinerea on greenhouse cucumber. Trichoderma harzianum T39 (TRICHODEX) spray reduced powdery mildew severity by up to 97% but its efficacy declined to 18–55% control as the epidemic progressed. Unlike on young leaves, on older leaves the control of powdery mildew by T. harzianum T39 was poor. Ampelomyces quisqualis (AQ10) was very effective against powdery mildew, achieving up to 98% of control. Its effectiveness declined with the progress of the epidemic but unlike the other biocontrol agent it retained significant control capability on older leaves. Two aliphatic petroleum distillate oil products improved the efficacy of both biocontrol agents. The co-application of T. harzianum T39 and A. quisqualis AQ10 was tested on cucumber plants infected with powdery mildew followed by fruit gray mold infection. It resulted in no improvement of the control of powdery mildew, and in an improvement of gray mold control, the latter probably because of the use of additive oil (ADDQ) along with the second biocontrol preparation. There was no significant interference between the biocontrol agents in the co-application treatment as compared with the application of each agent alone; the level of population of T. harzianum T39 remained similar and the parasitism of S. fusca by A. quisqualis was not nullified. The application of T. harzianum T39 to soil instead of spraying it resulted in 75–90% lower powdery mildew coverage on the leaves. It was concluded that the mode of action of T. harzianum T39 in powdery mildew control is induced resistance, not mycoparasitism or antibiotic action.     

Induction of conidiation by endogenous volatile compounds in Trichoderma spp

Light and starvation are two principal environmental stimuli inducing conidiation in the soil micromycete Trichoderma spp. We observed that volatiles produced by conidiating colonies of Trichoderma spp. elicited conidiation in colonies that had not been induced previously by exposure to light. The inducing effect of volatiles was both intra- and interspecific. Chemical profiles of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by the nonconidiated colonies grown in the dark and by the conidiating colonies were compared using solid-phase microextraction of headspace samples followed by tandem GC-MS. The conidiation was accompanied by increased production of eight-carbon compounds 1-octen-3-ol and its analogs 3-octanol and 3-octanone. When vapors of these compounds were applied individually to dark-grown colonies, they elicited their conidiation already at submicromolar concentrations. It is concluded that the eight-carbon VOCs act as signaling molecules regulating development and mediating intercolony communication in Trichoderma.     

Biological Control of Fusarium spp. in Cotton, Wheat and Muskmelon by Trichoderma harzianum

A new isolate of Trichoderma harzianum (T-35) was isolated from the rhizosphere of cotton plants from a field infested with Fusarium. Under glasshouse conditions, the antagonist was applied to soil growing in a bran/peat mixture (1:1, v/v) or as a conidial suspension or used as a seed coating. When T. harzianum was tested against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis or F. roseum‘Culmorum”, a significant disease reduction, was obtained in cotton, melon and wheat, respectively. Biological control of Fusarium wilt of cotton was achieved when tested at two inoculum levels of the pathogen (2 × 10⁷ and 2 × 10⁸ microconidia/kg soil), decreasing the Fusarium spp. soil population. The long term effect of T. harzianum on Fusarium wilt of cotton was studied using successive plantings. The antagonist persisted in soil throughout three consecutive plantings, reducing the Fusarium, wilt incidence in each growth cycle. At the first planting the largest amount of preparation was found superior, whereas at the third planting, no significant difference could be observed between the four rates of Trichoderma preparation. T. harzianum (T-35) controlled Fusarium wilt in cotton and muskmelon when applied in both naturally or artificially infested alluvial vertisol and sandy-loam soils, respectively. Soil or seed treatments with the antagonist provided a similar disease control of F. roseum‘Culmorum’ and of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis.     

贵州地区木霉菌分离鉴定及对辣椒疫霉的拮抗作用

【背景】辣椒疫霉是一种毁灭性的土传病害,当前主要使用化学合成杀菌剂防治,但容易导致环境污染和食品安全等问题。【目的】筛选可拮抗辣椒疫霉的候选菌株,探究分离菌株拮抗辣椒疫霉的生理生化作用机制。【方法】综合应用形态学、核糖体RNA (rRNA)基因非转录区ITS序列相似性方法鉴定分离菌株,通过对峙实验筛选抑菌效果较高的拮抗菌株,基于比色法测定分离菌株发酵液粗提物对辣椒疫霉菌丝脂质过氧化、纤维素酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶(β-GC)和多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)活性的影响。【结果】从腐木和土壤样品中分离得到11株木霉,分属于绿色木霉(Trichodermavirens)、哈茨木霉(Trichoderma harzianum)、钩状木霉(Trichoderma hamatum)和棘孢木霉(Trichoderma asperellum) 4个种。11株木霉对辣椒疫霉均有一定的抑制作用,抑制率达到90%以上的菌株包括:绿色木霉Tv-1(92.68%)、Tv-2 (95.12%),哈茨木霉Thz-2 (92.68%),钩状木霉Tha-1 (90.24%)。以4株高效木霉的发酵液粗提物处理辣椒疫霉菌丝5 d后,因脂质过氧化产生的丙二醛含量显著增加,分别达到1.20、1.48、2.69和3.16 nmol/g,显著高于对照处理的0.77 nmol/g;与对照组相比,β-GC、PG酶活性显著下降,分别降低了12.28%-64.91%、7.2%-15.5%;同时纤维素酶活性呈上升趋势,最显著组为2.647 U/mL,相对于对照组增加了0.831U/mL。【结论】分离得到4株明显抑制辣椒疫霉菌生长的高效木霉菌,主要通过破坏细胞壁结构、降低致病因子酶活力和增强脂质过氧化等方式起拮抗作用,可为辣椒疫病的生物防治提供理论依据和技术支持。     

Biocontrol of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infection of cabbage by Coniothyrium minitans and Trichoderma spp.

Nine fungal isolates [Clonostachys rosea (1), Coniothyrium minitans (1), Trichoderma crassum (1), T. hamatum (4), T. rossicum (1) and T. virens (1)] were tested in two bioassays for their ability to degrade sclerotia and reduce apothecial production and carpogenic infection of cabbage seedlings. C. minitans LU112 reduced apothecial production in both bioassays, with T. virens LU556 significantly reducing apothecial production in the sclerotial parasitism assay. Both isolates also reduced sclerotial viability in this assay to 5% for C. minitans and 22% for T. virens. C. minitans LU112 and T. virens LU556 reduced the infection of cabbage seedlings in the pot bioassay 126 days after sowing but not after 147 days, partly due to ascospore cross-infection between treatments. C. minitans LU112, T. virens LU556 and T. hamatum LU593 as maizemeal-perlite (MP) soil incorporation and transplant potting mix incorporation were evaluated for their ability to control Sclerotinia sclerotiorum disease of cabbage in field experiments. S. sclerotiorum infection of cabbage was reduced by 46–52% and 31–57% by both C. minitans LU112 and T. hamatum LU593 as MP soil incorporations, respectively, in the two field experiments. T. virens LU556 MP soil incorporation and C. minitans LU112 and T. hamatum LU593 transplant potting mix incorporations reduced S. sclerotiorum disease in the first experiment but not in the second experiment. A commercial C. minitans LU112 formulation, C. Mins LU112 WG, also significantly reduced S. sclerotiorum disease by 59%. Soil incorporation of C. minitans and T. hamatum was shown to have potential to control S. sclerotiorum disease in cabbage.     

Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus spp. as growth promoters in maize (Zea mays L.)

Microbes that are beneficial to plants are used to enhance the crop growth, yield and are alternatives to chemical fertilizers. Trichoderma and Bacillus are the predominant plant growth-promoting fungi and bacteria. The objective of this study was select, characterize, and evaluate isolates of Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus spp. native from the northern region of Sinaloa, Mexico, and assess their effect on growth promotion in maize (Zea mays L.). In greenhouse conditions, four Trichoderma isolates and twenty Bacillus isolates, as well as two controls, were tested in a completely randomized design with three replicates. We selected the two best strains of Trichoderma and Bacillus: TB = Trichoderma asperellum, TF = Trichoderma virens, B14 = Bacillus cereus sensu lato and B17 = Bacillus cereus, which were evaluated in the field in a completely randomized blocks in factorial arrangement design with three replicates applying different rates of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 150 kg N/ha, and 300 kg N/ha). Treatments 5 (B17 = B. cereus) and 11 (TF = T. virens) both fertilized with 150 kg N/ha showed similar yields and they did not reveal significant differences from the treatments fertilized with 300 kg N/ha. This indicated that treatment 5 (B17= B. cereus with 150 kg N/ha) and treatment 11 (TF= T. virens with 150 kg N/ha) were efficient as growth promoters, by not showing significant differences in root volume and dry weight of foliage. The results indicated a reduction of 50% in the rate of nitrogen to fertilizer required for maize (Zea mays L.) crops. These microorganisms Trichoderma and Bacillus could be an alternative to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in maize.     

根癌农杆菌介导的木霉遗传转化及应用进展

木霉作为土传植物病原菌的生防真菌,研究其功能基因具有重要的意义。根癌农杆菌介导的遗传转化(ATMT)为木霉功能基因的研究提供了一个强有力的工具。对根癌农杆菌介导木霉遗传转化的机理、特点、方法及其在木霉中的应用进行了综述。     

Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma asperellum against Pythium aphanidermatum in tomatoes

Seedling damping-off disease caused by Pythium aphanidermatum is the most important seedling disease in tomato production in Kenya. The disease causes seedling losses of up to 30%. Greenhouse trials were conducted to evaluate the application of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma asperellum, as seed coating for management of damping-off in tomato from April 2011 to August 2014. Tomato seeds (var. Rio Grande) were coated with either B. subtilis or T. asperellum at a concentration of 10⁶ CFU/ml. The interaction between the two biocontrol agents and NPK fertilizer was assessed. To simulate the effect of high disease pressure, the coated seeds were planted in P. aphanidermatum inoculated media. The post-emergence seedling damping-off on seeds coated with B. subtilis and T. asperellum was 20.19% and 24.07% respectively while the control (non-coated) had 65.89% seedling mortality. A combination of NPK fertilizer and biocontrols in seedling management resulted to a significantly higher dry mass compared to the use of either biocontrol agent or fertilizer alone (P ⩽ 0.001). This study indicates that coating of tomato seeds with B. subtilis and T. asperellum may be useful in the management of damping-off disease.     

木霉属真菌分离培养的研究进展

木霉属真菌（Trichoderma spp.）种类众多、分布广泛,在农业、工业和环境修复领域应用广泛。因此,木霉属真菌的分离培养具有重要的研究价值。本文通过详尽的文献查找和分析对木霉属真菌的分离培养研究进展予以综述,从生存环境、不同分离基质和分离方法的样品前处理方法等总结了木霉属真菌的分离基质及预处理方法;详细回顾了木霉属真菌分离培养基研究的发展历程和主要原理;简要介绍了目前木霉属真菌的纯化与保存方法;并从开展多种抗菌物质和表面活性剂探索角度对未来木霉属真菌分离培养进行了展望,以期为木霉属真菌资源开发提供参考。     

作物根围土壤木霉菌物种多样性及其体外拮抗病原菌效应

对采自我国西北地区青海、宁夏、甘肃、陕西和新疆农作物根围土壤中的木霉菌进行分离纯化后,采用形态与分子生物学技术进行菌种鉴定,获得14个木霉种属346个菌株。其中哈茨木霉(Trichoderma harzianum)和棘孢木霉(Trichoderma asperellum)为优势菌种,分别占总数的35%和30%;其次为长枝木霉(Trichoderma longibrachiatum)占12%;绿木霉(Trichoderma virens)、深绿木霉(Trichoderma atroviride)、拟康宁木霉(Trichoderma koningiopsis)和平菇木霉(Trichoderma pleurotum)分别占8%,5%,2%和1%;绿色木霉(Trichoderma viride)/钩状木霉(Trichoderma hamatum)和短密木霉(Trichoderma brevicompactum)/矩孢木霉(Trichoderma oblongisporum)分别皆占2%和1%;渐绿木霉(Trichoderma viridescens)、侧耳木霉(Trichoderma pleuroticola)和康宁木霉(Trichoderma koningii)为我国西北地区农作物根围土壤中最小的木霉种群,各仅占0.3%。将纯化的菌株分别与5个靶标病原真菌在马铃薯葡萄糖培养基(PDA)平板上进行拮抗测试,研究结果表明各木霉菌株对病原菌的拮抗效果有明显差异,且其平均拮抗指数均60%。将2株短密木霉(TR1294TR1295)进行液体发酵培养,并用稀释5倍的发酵液配制PDA平板,对靶标病原真菌进行抑菌测试。结果显示,这5个病原真菌在含有TR1294和TR1295发酵液PDA平板上的生长抑制率可达72%,表明TR1294和TR1295在液体发酵过程中能产生抑菌次级代谢物。     

Serpula lacrymans reacts with a general,unspecialized chemical response during interaction with mycoparasitic Trichoderma spp. and bacteria

Serpula lacrymans causes structural damage in timber via cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition. Serpula lacrymans shares its habitat with bacteria and fungi, interactions that often result in stress and changed behaviour of the partners. A typical response to environmental stress is the production of bioactive metabolites and pigments. The diversity and function of these metabolites in inter- and intra-kingdom interactions, is largely elusive. Using dual culture approaches and secondary metabolite fingerprinting with high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) it was demonstrated that stress induces an unspecific vs. Similar metabolite patterns were identified when S. lacrymans was co-cultured with different bacteria and mycoparasitic fungi (Trichoderma spp.). By analysing the metabolites produced along the gradient from the contact zone to more remote parts of the mycelium, we show a systemic reaction of S. lacrymans and that direct contact with other microbes is not a necessity to induce secondary metabolites.     

木霉菌在玉米病害生物防治中的作用机制及应用

目前,世界上共有分属于10个属（Trichoderma,Gliocladium,Chaetomium,Bacillus,Burkhoderia,Streptomyces and Pseudomonas,Pantoea,Enterobacter,Macrobacterium）中的微生物被试验用于玉米病害的生物防治,其中细菌14种,真菌17种,放线菌1种。国际上由木霉菌开发的生物杀菌剂和生物肥料有50余种,其中以哈茨木霉T22菌株开发的产品最为著名。目前在我国也开发出了4种木霉菌剂型（可湿性粉剂、颗粒剂、水分散粒剂和种衣剂）,正式登记的木霉菌杀菌剂有7种,其中6种为可湿粉剂,1种为水分散粒剂,主要登记用于防治番茄、观赏百合、黄瓜的立枯病、猝倒病、根腐病、灰霉病、霜霉病以及小麦的纹枯病,但尚无木霉菌生物农药被登记用于防治玉米病害。以木霉菌为主要成分登记的菌肥产品有11种,其中在玉米上应用的有2种。由课题组研制的木霉菌颗粒剂和种衣剂通过土壤穴施和种子包衣可有效防治玉米茎腐病和纹枯病,其中木霉菌颗粒剂防效达65%-87%。近期研制的木霉菌可湿性粉剂对玉米小斑病的防效达50%-60%。国际上已鉴定出多种可诱导玉米获得系统抗性的木霉菌源激发子,其中包括Sm1、纤维素酶、疏水蛋白和Avr4 /Avr9等效应因子。本课题组近年鉴定出Thc6（锌指蛋白类转录因子）、PAF-AH和Thph1/Thph2的编码产物在系统诱导以JA/ET信号调控的玉米抗弯孢菌叶斑病中具有重要作用,符合植物免疫MAMPs模式,为全面认识木霉菌诱导免疫机理提供了重要理论依据。木霉菌诱导玉米从根至叶片的防御反应系统传导机制还需深入研究。     

Mycoparasitism of Trichoderma spp. in biocontrol of fusarial wilt of tomato

Wilt of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum is one of the most serious diseases posing a threat to its cultivation. As such a thorough search was made to evaluate the mycoparasitic potentiality of three species of Trichoderma, T. harzianum, T. viride and T. hamatum towards minimising the effect of the pathogen on ravages of the crop. All the experimental species of Trichoderma were able to produce lytic enzymes, β-1,3 glucanase and chitinase efficiently but their activity could be hastened up in the presence of cell wall material of the pathogen where T. harzianum was recorded to be the best in rank. Lysis of mycelium of the pathogen was achieved by treatment with metabolic filtrate of the antagonistic fungi. SEM micrographs correspondingly showed lysis of pathogenic mycelium due to overgrowth and penetration through hyphal pegs and coiling produced by T. harzianum. Application of the antagonistic fungi in the field showed their ability to reduce the incidence of the wilt disease to a reasonable extent where the performance of T. harzianum happened to be superior over the others.     

Control of Pratylenchus brachyurus in soybean with Trichoderma spp. and resistance inducers

Trichoderma spp. is a fungus with nematode control potential; however, its potential to control the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus brachyurus remains poorly studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to select Trichoderma spp. isolates and assess their ability to control P. brachyurus in soybean crops. Different experiments were conducted aiming at selecting isolates, assessing whether they were able to reduce nematode penetration in plants or cause mortality in vitro, and whether they were able to induce resistance in soybean, as well as at studying the possibility of using the selected isolates associated with resistance inducers (acibenzolar‐S‐methyl, Ecolife^? and AgroMos^?). The selection experiment found three isolates showing satisfactory results, namely GF422, GF425 and GF427; the GF362 isolate was assessed in the subsequent experiments. These four isolates reduced P. brachyurus penetration in soybean roots and promoted nematode mortality in vitro. Increased total protein and catalase activity were recorded, mainly in the 72‐hr assessments. Overall, the protein production was different between isolates. The best results were found in the combination between the GF362 isolate and the three resistance inducers, between GF427 and Ecolife^?, between GF427 and AgroMos^? and between GF422 and Ecolife^?.     

Antagonistic assessment of Trichoderma spp. by producing volatile and non-volatile compounds against different fungal pathogens

Trichoderma spp. are well-known biological agents that have significant antagonistic activity against several plant pathogenic fungi. In the present study, Trichoderma spp. were tested in vitro for their antagonistic activity against different spp. of Fusarium and Alternaria viz. Alternaria alternata, A. brassicae, A. solani, Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani using dual plate assay and by the production of volatile and non-volatile compounds. The results obtained revealed that Trichoderma harzianum and T. viride effectively inhibited the growth and spore production of different spp. of Fusarium and Alternaria. The highest growth inhibition was found in A. alternata 62.50% and 60.00% by non-volatile compounds of T. harzianum and T. viride, respectively. Similarly, the volatile compounds inhibit the maximum growth of A. alternata 40.00% and 35.00% by T. harzianum and T. viride, respectively. Volatile and non-volatile compounds of Trichoderma spp. were analysed by GC-MS technique and the properties of distinguished compounds showed antifungal, antimicrobial and antibiotic activities. Volatile compounds of T. harzianum and T. viride showed highest percent abundance for glacial acetic acid (45.32%) and propyl-benzene (41.75%), respectively. In case of non-volatile compounds, T. harzianum and T. viride showed D-Glucose, 6-O-α-D-galactopyranosyl- (38.45%) and 17-Octadecynoic acid (36.23%), respectively. The results of present study confirmed that T. harzianum can be used as a promising biological control agent against Alternaria and Fusarium spp. that cause diseases in various vegetables and crops.     

Biological control of anthracnose by postharvest application of Trichoderma spp. on maradol papaya fruit

Papaya is one of the most cultivated fruit in tropical and subtropical countries. It is affected by several postharvest pathogens, including Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The main goal of this research was to evaluate the antagonistic capacity of five strains of Trichoderma against C. gloeosporioides using in vitro and in vivo tests. All strains of Trichoderma inhibited radial growth on a plate of Colletotrichum by 50–60%. Moreover, Trichoderma longibrachiatum showed the highest colonization (87.45%) on Colletotrichum. In tests to determine the mechanism of action, mycoparasitism was observed. Trichoderma harzianum was mainly found invading mycelium of C. gloeosporioides. The severity measure showed that it was the interaction of the strain with the different time of inoculation that influenced the size of the lesion, with the largest decrease in lesion size occurring when Trichoderma viride was inoculated 24 h before the pathogen. On the other hand, the Trichoderma strains did not cause color changes on papaya fruits.