Caracterización y selección de aislados de Clonostachys spp. para el control biológico del moho gris en tomate

Grey mould caused by Botrytis cinerea is one of the most prominent diseases in protected crops, including tomato. This disease can affect any plant organ at any stage of development. Management is mainly based on the use of chemical products; however the selection of resistant strains of the pathogen, the negative effects on the health of workers and consumers, demand the development of control alternatives for crops. In this sense biological control appears as a viable alternative for the protection of horticultural crops. In order to contribute to the development of biocontrol agents for the management of grey mould in tomato, the aim of this work was to characterise six isolates of Clonostachys spp. and evaluate their potential for biological control of grey mould in tomato plants. Based on dual-culture confrontations of six isolates of Clonostachys spp. against the most aggressive strain of B. cinerea. Two isolates, Pay 4 and Pal 14, were selected for evaluation of grey mould control on tomato plants under controlled conditions of humidity and temperature. Of the six isolates, three species were identified: two C. rosea f. rosea, one C. chlorolecua and two C. rhizophaga. Both isolates selected for the plant trial belonged to the species C. rhizophaga and showed potential for biological control of grey mould.