Competitive interactions between Fusarium sambucinum Fuckel and Phoma glomerata (Corda) Wollenweber & Hochapfel under in vitro conditions

The effects of temperature (15 and 25 degrees C), water activity (0.85, 0.90, 0.95, 0.98 y 0.995) and the interaction between Fusarium sambucinum and Phoma glomerata in rice extract agar on fungus growth were investigated. Fungi interactions were given a numerical score to obtain an Index of Dominance (ID) and to observe possible variations under different conditions of temperature and water activity (aw) changed. F. sambucinum and P. glomerata grew most rapidly -both individually and paired- at 0.995 aw and 25 degrees C. On the other hand, F. sambucinum presented higher growth rates than P. glomerata and it was dominant over P. glomerata under all the tested conditions. Water activity and temperature showed a significant effect on fungus growth.