Promising native Trichoderma atroviride (BC0584) as a biocontrol agent in seed coating for reducing Fusarium damping-off on maize crop in Belgium

Maize is one of the most commonly grown crops in Belgium and is primarily cultivated as animal feed. At sowing, maize seeds are coated with synthetic fungicides and/or repellents in order to protect them from damping-off or from birds. The aim of this study was to identify one biological control agent (BCA) which is naturally able to control soil-borne fungal agents causing damping-off. More than 1,000 native fungi were isolated from Belgian maize agroecosystems. In vitro screenings were carried out to determine their antagonistic activities against Fusarium avenaceum and F. culmorum fungi at... Mehr ...