The fungal biocontrol agent Coniothyrium minitans: production by solid-state fermentation, application and marketing.
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.
de Vrije
T
T
Agrotechnological Research Institute (ATO), Department Bioconversion, Wageningen, The Netherlands. g.j.devrije@ato.wag-ur.nl
Antoine
N
N
Buitelaar
R M
RM
Bruckner
S
S
Dissevelt
M
M
Durand
A
A
Gerlagh
M
M
Jones
E E
EE
Lüth
P
P
Oostra
J
J
Ravensberg
W J
WJ
Renaud
R
R
Rinzema
A
A
Weber
F J
FJ
Whipps
J M
JM
D001203:Ascomycota; D005285:Fermentation; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000502:physiology
D005659:Fungicides, Industrial