Enzymes produced by antagonist fungi can be effectively applied as new biopesticides

Antagonistic fungi of the genera Trichoderma and Gliocladiumsecrete complex enzyme mixtures (chitinases, glucanases, cellulasesand proteases) capable of lysing the cell wall of plant pathogenicfungi and showing a strong antifungal activity. In vitro experimentshad previously shown that these synergistic mixturescan also increase the toxic effect on phytopathogens of chemicalfungicides, thus eventually reducing their application dose. In thiswork, performed within the framework of the EU project ‘Substitutionof methyl bromide fumigation and disease management instrawberry crops by IPM strategies’, different Trichoderma strainsand culture conditions have been tested, and an efficient systemto produce potent combinations of fungicidal enzymes has beendeveloped. The dialyzed culture filtrates, characterized by thepresence of the lytic enzymes, have been applied directly in vivoto control Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum acutatum on strawberry,both on fruit in post harvest and on plants growing ingreenhouse. In addition, in vivo synergistic interactions with severalchemical fungicides have been identified, and protocols forjoint application and formulation of enzymes and fungicides have been developed.