In Vitro and In Vivo Tests for Parasitism of Verticillium psalliotae Treschow on Hemileia Vastatrix BERK. and BR.

Abstract

The fungus Verticillium psalliotae Treschow is known to grow on the rust sori masses of Hemileia vastatrix in coffee plantings in Malaysia. However, published reports on this parasite or other biocontrol organisms present naturally in the coffee ecosystems in Malaysia are lacking. In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to elucidate evidence of parasitism of V. psalliotae on H. vastatrix. The host-mycoparasite interaction conducted in vitro resulted a significant reduction in germination of Hemileia uredespores and an increase in germination of Verticillium conidia. A significant reduction in leaf rust severity by the presence of V. psalliotae, particularly when V. psalliotae was applied 24 hours before the inoculation of H. vastatrix, demonstrated an evidence parasitism in vivo. The evidences were supported by SEM observation of penetration and damage to Hemileia uredospores by hyphae of V. psalliotae.

Keywords

• Verticillium psalliotae
• Mycoparasite
• in vitro
• in vivo
• Hemileia vastatrix