Efficacy of Typhula phacorrhiza as a biocontrol agent of grey snow mould of creeping bentgrass

Isolates of the fungus Typhula phacorrhiza Fries (TP) were evaluated in field tests over a 3-year period for suppression of grey snow mould caused by Typhula ishikariensis Imai (Tish) and Typhula incarnata Lasch ex Fr. (Tinc). Isolates of TP were collected across southern Ontario in the spring of 1994. In December 1994, 46 of these isolates, which had been cultured on mixed grains, were applied to creeping bent grass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) at a rate of 200 g/m2 (4 × 105 colony forming units (cfu)/m2) with inoculum of Tish or Tinc at 10 g/m2 (2 × 104 cfu/m2). In December 1995, 30 selected TP isolates were inoculated onto a new set of plots along with grey snow mould fungi. In November 1996, 22 of these isolates were re-inoculated onto the 1995 plots. All plots were rated for injury after snowmelt, 1995–1997. Isolates of TP varied significantly in their ability to suppress disease. No strong correlations were found between in vitro growth characteristics and field performance; however, significant positive correlations were found between the disease suppression trials for the 3 years, with several isolates showing statistically significant control of grey snow mould equal to a fungicide treatment.