Evaluation of Trichoderma isolates as biocontrol measure against Claviceps purpurea

Abstract Claviceps purpurea causes ergot, a floral disease of major cereal crops, such as winter rye and triticale. The dark sclerotia formed by C. contain numerous toxic ergot alkaloids, which pose health risk for humans animals when ingested. countermeasures against infection are currently limited to intensive tillage, seed cleaning, crop rotation or integration optical sorting machines remove from cereals before processing. However, these practices confer only minor protective effect highly energy-demanding. Thus, more effective sustainable plant protection measures combat infections in needed. application Trichoderma spp. biological control agent has already proven successful wide range phytopathogenic fungi. there is scientific evidence about its capacity crops. In our study, we therefore investigated the antagonistic potential several isolates their ability infection. initial vitro tests confrontation assays, quantified compared production iron-chelating compounds hydrolytic enzymes well activity mycelial cultures . Several strains showed high antifungal growth inhibitory effects towards Selected were then tested protect ( Secale cereale ) plants within greenhouse trial. Rhizosphere-inoculated displayed decreased severity that had been sprayed with spores above-ground. Gene expression analysis reverse transcription quantitative PCR also indicated induction systemic defense reactions. Overall, data suggest individual possess , could be direct mycoparasitism inducing resistance, provide important guidance development treatments biocontrol measure ergot. Graphical abstract