title: The fungal biocontrol agent Coniothyrium minitans: production by solid-state fermentation, application and marketing.
abstract: Biological control agents (BCAs) are potential alternatives for the chemical fungicides presently used in agriculture to fight plant diseases. Coniothyrium minitans is an example of a promising fungal BCA. It is a naturally occurring parasite of the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a wide-spread pathogen which substantially reduces the yield of many crops. This review describes, exemplified by C. minitans, the studies that need to be carried out before a fungal BCA is successfully introduced into the market. The main aspects considered are the biology of C. minitans, the development of a product by mass production of spores using solid-state fermentation technology, its biocontrol activity and marketing of the final product.
authors.affiliation: Agrotechnological Research Institute (ATO), Department Bioconversion, Wageningen, The Netherlands. g.j.devrije@ato.wag-ur.nl
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Vrije
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Antoine
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Buitelaar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bruckner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dissevelt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerlagh
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lüth
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oostra
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ravensberg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rinzema
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Whipps
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota; D005285:Fermentation; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005659:Fungicides, Industrial