Fungal Communities in Re-Emerging <i>Fraxinus excelsior</i> Sites in Lithuania and Their Antagonistic Potential against <i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus</i>

Abstract

Fifty-nine fungal taxa, isolated from re-emerging Fraxinus excelsior sites in Lithuania, were in vitro tested against three strains of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus on agar media to establish their biocontrol properties. All tested fungi were isolated from leaves and shoots of relatively healthy Fraxinus excelsior trees (H. fraxineus growth by tested fungal taxa ranged between 16–87%. Occasionally isolated fungal taxa such as Neonectria coccinea, Nothophorma quercina, and Phaeosphaeria caricis were among the most effective fungi inhibiting the growth of H. fraxineus cultures. Among the more commonly isolated fungal taxa, Cladosporium sp., Fusarium sp., Malassezia sp., and Aureobasidium pullulans showed a strong growth inhibition of H. fraxineus.

Keywords

• ash dieback
• biocontrol
• dual-culture assay
• fungal communities