Pochonia chlamydosporia and wine industry by-product in the management of Rhizoctonia solani

Abstract The fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia colonizes plant-parasitic nematode eggs, but also may suppress soilborne phytopathogenic fungi. This study aimed to assess the impact of four P. chlamydosporia isolates on the mycelial growth of Rhizoctonia solani in laboratory settings and the effect of these isolates in the management of R. solani in table beet under greenhouse conditions, including the combination or not of the isolate Pc-13 with a wine industry by-product. In laboratory, the isolates Pc-10, Pc-11, and Pc-13 of P. chlamydosporia inhibited R. solani mycelial growth in the assays of direct confrontation and production of volatile metabolites. In the greenhouse, all isolates of P. chlamydosporia increased table beet seedling emergence. However, only isolate Pc-13 reduced damping-off in the seedlings. The combination of the fungus with wine industry by-product reduced disease incidence in comparison to the control, but the effect was similar to applying the residue alone. Pochonia chlamydosporia isolate Pc-13 and the wine industry by-product have potential to manage damping-off in table beet.