Trichoderma asperellum cultured in association with homoeopathic preparations for biological control of Monilinia fructicola in peach

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of Trichoderma asperellum multiplied in a culture medium with homoeopathic preparations (HP) for control of the pathogen Monilinia fructicola in vitro and in harvested peach fruit (Prunus persica). T. asperellum was multiplied in potato-dextrose-agar medium with HP Digitalis purpurea, Nux vomica, or Pulsatilla nigricans at 30CH (0.5% of medium). In vitro confrontation bioassays were conducted, using a randomised design with six treatments and seven replicates, by placing medium discs (0.7 cm) with mycelium of M. fructicola and T. asperellum in Petri dishes in accordance with the treatments. Investigations were extended with pre-application of T. asperellum on harvested peach fruits (cv. Fascínio) with artificial damage and inoculated with M. fructicola, and with post-application of T. asperellum on peach fruit (cv. Kampai), using a randomised block design with eight treatments and seven replications. In the in vitro assays, radial growth of the colony was evaluated, and mycelial growth velocity index (MGVI) and % growth inhibition of the phytopathogen colony were calculated. On the peach fruit, lesion diameter was evaluated and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) of the brown rot disease was calculated. T. asperellum cultured with Pulsatilla nigricans 30CH reduced MGVI of the pathogen in vitro, and in the pre-application experiment, T. asperellum cultured in association with HP reduced the severity of the disease in the Fascínio fruit. It was concluded that the homoeopathic preparations enhanced the performance of T. asperellum with potential to suppress M. fructicola on peaches.