Reduction in gray mold severity in Eucalyptus benthamii seedlings treated with Trichoderma atroviride

ABSTRACT Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is responsible for mortality of Eucalyptus benthamii seedlings. Biological control is an alternative due to the lack of products registered for eucalyptus in Brazil. This study evaluated the endophytic fungus Trichoderma atroviride, isolated from eucalypt, for controlling B. cinerea. The assay consisted in the application of a spore suspension of T. atroviride on E. benthamii seedlings at 24, 48 or 72 h before B. cinerea inoculation. Iprodione was used as positive control. Inoculated seedlings were maintained in a greenhouse for 21 days. Severity was evaluated based on a scale of symptoms from 0 (no lesions) to 4 (high severity). Trichoderma atroviride significantly reduced the disease severity, independent of the time of previous pulverization, similarly to the fungicide.