Reaction of Diaporthe longicolla to a strain of Sarocladium kiliense

Phomopsis seed decay of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a seedborne fungal disease caused by Diaporthe longicolla that causes yield losses and reduced seed quality. Biocontrol of this pathogen by a strain of Sarocladium kiliense isolated from a culture of D. longicolla was investigated in vitro and in vivo. A zone of inhibition formed between the two fungi in vitro, but was poorly sustained, and inhibition of conidial germination of D. longicolla by a culture filtrate of S. kiliense was not significant, though D. longicolla mycelial growth was inhibited by a 25% culture filtrate. Co-inoculation of both fungi failed to reduce seed rot or increase seed germination in greenhouse and growth chamber experiments, respectively. Co-inoculation of both fungi also failed to reduce pycnidial development in colonies of D. longicolla growing on leaf pieces, but soaking of the leaf pieces with S. kiliense conidia for one or three days prior to inoculation with D. longicolla eliminated pycnidial development completely. Although it was not possible to reproduce the parasitism of S. kiliense on D. longicolla under the experimental and environmental conditions used, the potential to use S. kiliense as a protectant biocontrol for soybean fungal pathogens should be further investigated.