Trichoderma spp strains with high capacity of fungus biological control and selection process thereof by molecular markers

Abstract

Trichoderma spp. strains with high capacity for fungus biological control in wide ranges of temperature and pH are described, such strains being compatible with each other. Likewise, a process of selection of such strains through molecular markers is described. The described process reduce the number of necessary experiments to determine if a Trichoderma strain, not previously described, can display a biological activity more acceptable than those well known.

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to techniques for fungus biological control and, more specifically, it refers to Trichoderma spp. strains with high capacity of fungus biological control and a process for selection thereof by molecular markers.[0002] Survival of agricultural cultivates during its development, in the face of multiple pathogenic agents attacking them, is due principally to the natural existence of biological control. Several microorganisms capable of antagonizing the effect of other phytopathogenic microorganisms give this control.[0003] Development and application of this natural potential is becoming more and more important as man has become able to participate and improve it and, will almost certainly have a big impact in agriculture in the near future, since the use of biological control agents in the country is an important factor in reducing chemical pesticides and therefore pollution, caused thereby.[0004] In general, the microorganisms used in biological co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide Trichoderma spp. strains with high capacity for fungus biological control, which are compatibles with other Trichoderma strains.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a process for the selection of Trichoderma spp. strains having high capacity for fungus biological control through molecular markers, which allow to obtain Trichoderma spp. strains which can produce an optimal biological control at different temperature and pH conditions.

[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a process for the selection of Trichoderma spp. strains with high capacity for fungus biological control through molecular markers, which allow to obtain Trichoderma spp. strains which can produce an optimal biological control of a great diversity of pathogenic agents.

[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a process for the selection of Trichoderma spp. strains with high capacity for fungus biological control through molecular markers, which allow to reduce the number of necessary experiments to determine if a Trichoderma strain, not previously described, can display a biological activity more accepted than those well known.

[0021] It has been found that by the use of molecular biology techniques it is possible to carry out, from a collection of natural strains, a process that allows the selection of Trichoderma strains with high capacity of biological control in a wide range of phytopathogenic fungus under several different environmental conditions.

[0031] Furthermore, once accomplished the present invention process for a certain Trichoderma strain collection by the step 2 of molecular-genetic markers detection, it is possible to determine for a strain that is incorporated to the collection if it is possible to have a better performance in relation to those already in the collection, since only those strains genotypically different, independent to genotypes already detected, will give raise to better performances.

Problems solved by technology

However, not all isolated microorganisms present optimal characteristics for its use in biological control.

However, up to date it has not been possible to carry out a largely effective and productive biological control, since no selection from suitable isolate or strain at country and weather conditions prevailing at the place where they are to be used has been carried out, so as according to the pathogen(s) agent(s)-object.

The fact that no strain nor isolate can be considered of universal utility for control of all kinds of pathogens and all kinds of environmental conditions, makes that, despite the great development the use of these microorganisms have had in biological control, up to date it has not been possible to use them in the best manner, since in some cases the growth of the control agent is not enough, or basically it can not control all present pathogenic agents.

Furthermore, when mixtures of strains or Trichoderma species are used to try to control different biologically pathogens, in some cases they inhibit each other creating a poorer biological control, instead of the improvement desired.

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