Application of organic waste material overgrown with Trichoderma atroviride as a control strategy for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Chalara thielavioides in soil

The effect of granulated organic waste material overgrown withTrichoderma atrovirideTRS25 on the survival ofSclerotinia sclerotiorumandChalara thielavioidesin the soil was investigated. Application of this material into the soil at a dosage of 1% (w/v) reduced the survival ofS. sclerotiorumsclerotia to almost zero after 2 months of incubation. The sclerotia were parasitized byT. atroviridefungus multiplied on granulates. The detrimental effect of granulates onCh. thielavioideswas observed after 4 months of incubation. The granulates, withTrichodermaand without the fungus, caused a decrease of the pathogen population in soil.Trichoderma atrovirideintroduced into the soil as a conidia suspension did not decrease the amount ofCh. thielavioidesbut the fungus parasitizedS. sclerotiorumsclerotia. After the addition of granulated waste material, an increase of bacteria, especially thePseudomonasgroup in the soil was observed.