Factors Affecting the Parasitic Activity of Gliocladium virens on Sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and a Note on its Host Range

Aspects of the biology of Gliocladium virens and parasitism of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soil were studied. G. virens parasitized and decayed sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum, S. minor, Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotium, rolfsii and Macrophomina phaseolina on laboratory media and caused a reduction in survival of sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum in soil. It was active over a broad range of soil moisture levels and over the entire agricultural soil pH range. The main factor limiting its use as a biological control agent was its temperature requirements.