Poster Presentation Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting 2023

Assessing Compatibility of Trichoderma and Actinomycetes in the Biological Control Consortium Developed for Managing Wood Decaying Phytopathogen Pyrrhoderma noxium (#175)

Harrchun Panchalingam 1 , Vatsal Naik 2 , Richard Frenken 2 , Keith Foster 3 , Russell Tomlin 3 , Alison Shapcott 1 , Dilber Kurtboke 1
  1. School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs , QLD, Australia
  2. Frenkenscapes Pty Ltd, Brendale, QLD, Australia
  3. Brisbane City Council, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

The white root fungi, Pyrrhoderma noxium causing tree failures and agricultural losses across the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. Subtropical conditions facilitating the establishment of this pathogen in Brisbane Hinterland, thus causing significant damage to heritage Fig and various other tree species across the city. Several physical and chemical disease control measures have been tested against this pathogen. Among them, chemical control measures were reported as effective. However, due to the detrimental impacts on environment, human and animals, the chemical-based control measures are not widely used against P. noxium. In recent years, biological control of phytopathogens by the application of antagonistic microorganisms have gained more attention over the chemical-based control measures. Strains belonging to the genera Trichoderma and Streptomyces have been widely used in biological control applications and reported as being effective against a large number of phytopathogenic fungi. Previously, a number of Trichoderma and Streptomyces species were tested as single biocontrol agent (BCA) against P. noxium in plate assays, in in vitro wood decaying experiments and green house studies and confirmed for their antagonistic potential towards this pathogen. However, there were no prior attempts made on developing a consortium of Trichoderma and Streptomyces species for the management of P. noxium in the field. Selection of compatible BCAs for the development of consortium is key in such approach. This study evaluated the compatibility of Trichoderma and actinomycetes as combined inocula at previously reported P. noxium infected site at Rocks Riverside Park, Queensland. The application of this consortium of BCAs does not negatively impact on the establishment of the individual biocontrol agents, therefore, they can be used together in biological control applications. In addition, the ability of Trichoderma and actinomycete strains to survive in the Brisbane environmental conditions also suggest the possibility of using Trichoderma-actinomycetes consortium as a potential environmentally friendly way of eliminating P. noxium and protecting heritage trees from further infections.

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