Breeding Process of the Study.

Breeding phase, C. purpureum strain and its spore number in each breeding phase are presented. The best progenies in terms of laccase activity (the strongest color reaction, Phase 1) or in terms of efficacy in sprout control in the field (Phases 2 and 3) three months after C. purpureum application are in bold (see Fig. 2). During Phase 2 the best parent strains based on field experiments were bred and in Phase 3 the best progenies from Phases 1 and 2 were bred. Note: the subscript of a progeny indicates the breeding phase.a 0: No color reaction, i.e., low laccase activity; 1: slight color reaction; 2: intermediate color reaction; 3: strong color reaction, i.e., high laccase activity on a Petri plate.b Statistical difference in the number of stump sprouts between the control (cutting only) and the C. purpureum treatment, and the liquid control (inoculum medium spread without C. purpureum) and the C. purpureum treatment, respectively. P-values indicating statistically significant differences are based on generalized linear mixed models. P-values Breeding Process of the Study.