Various preparations of spores and mycelium of the antagonist Epicoccum nigrum, alone or in combination with Captan, were applied in four different field trials to peach trees inoculated with Monitinia taxa. the cause of twig blight. Biocontrol obtained after application of £^. nigrum was variable each year, depending on the releative disease severity in the first 2-3 weeks after infection and the climatic conditions. In three out of four trials, treatments with E. nigrum were comparable with Captan in reducing disease severity and combinations of E. nigrum and Captan gave a level of disease suppression similar to that given by the antagonist or chemical alone. In the remaining trial, combinations of E. nigrum and Captan were necessary to obtain successful disease suppression.
The influence of an isolate of Epicoccum nigrum and one of its antibiotics, flavipin, on the spores, mycelium, and germ tubes of Monilinia laxa in culture was studied using light and electron microscopy. Epicoccum nigrum and flavipin induced the development of stromata in cultures. Abundant clusters of microconidia of M. laxa were produced on the induced stromata exposed to E. nigrum and flavipin. Deformation of hyphae and germ tubes such as swellings, coilings, and abnormal ramifications were also noticeable under light and scanning electron microscopy after treatment with E. nigrum or flavipin. Transmission electron microscopy revealed cytoplasmic coagulation of the cells and abundant vacuoles and lipid bodies associated with membranes. In some cases alteration and disorganization of membranes was also apparent. Key words: antagonism, antibiosis, flavipin, biological control.
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