Diversity and taxonomy of antagonistic fungi Chaetomium spp. on Phytophthora palmivora found in Northern Thailand

Abstract

Phytophthora palmivora, a causal agent of root rot disease, is a severe pathogen affecting durian production. Some strain of Chaetomium exhibit antifungal activity and can be used to solve this problem. However, the data of the identification of Chaetomium is limited. Thus, Chaetomium species obtained from various agricultural materials including rice straw, husk, coffee shell, palm leaves, hay and soil in Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Phrae, Uttaradit and Lumphun) were surveyed, collected and identified. Twenty eight isolations were isolated by Baiting techniques and fungal morphological characteristics were observed. A phylogenetic tree based on internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) region revealed that 28 fungal isolations were identified to five fungal species include; Chaetomium atrobrunneum, C. aureum, C. brasiliense, C. cupreum, and C. globosum. The antagonistic fungal were tested for the mycelial growth inhibition of Phytophthora palmivora which causes the durian root and stem rot diseases by the dual culture method. Five isolates of antagonistic fungal C. atrobrunneum (MCRC-021), C. aureum (MCRC-019), C. brasiliense (MCRC-020), C. cupreum (MCRC-008) and C. globosum (MCRC-013), result showed that the Chaetomium isolates could inhibit growth of P. palmivora with the percentages of 99.41 53.09 51.62 40.59 and 32.50 respectively. The finding in this study might be useful for the selection of Cheatomium species in plant disease control in the future.