Vol. 65 No. 2 (2026)
Articles

Potential biocontrol of Botryosphaeria dieback pathogens using endophytic Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma species from grapevines

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  • İzzet BÜLBÜL,
  • Davut Soner AKGÜL
İzzet BÜLBÜL
Biological Control Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 01321, Yüreğir, Adana, Türkiye
Davut Soner AKGÜL
Department of Plant Protection, Agriculture Faculty, University of Çukurova, 01330, Balcalı, Adana, Türkiye
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/phyto-17392
Categories

Published 2026-09-10

Keywords

  • Grapevine trunk diseases,
  • Botryosphaeriaceae,
  • Lasiodiplodia brasiliensis,
  • Neofusicoccum parvum,
  • Vitis vinifera L.

How to Cite

[1]
İzzet BÜLBÜL and D. S. AKGÜL, “Potential biocontrol of Botryosphaeria dieback pathogens using endophytic Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma species from grapevines”, Phytopathol. Mediterr., vol. 65, no. 2, pp. 287–299, Sep. 2026.

Copyright (c) 2026 İzzet BÜLBÜL, Davut Soner AKGÜL

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

This research aimed to determine abilities of endophytic Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Trichoderma species to colonize grapevine cuttings, and to evaluate their performance for protecting pruning wounds from Botryosphaeriaceae fungi under greenhouse and field conditions. Colonization ability of five endophytic species (Aspergillus allahabadi, A. flavipes, Penicillium canescens, P. fructuariae-cellae, and Trichoderma brevicompactum) was assessed after introductions into cuttings using two inoculation methods: immersion in conidial suspensions or contact with dry conidia. Colonization by the inoculated fungi was subsequently confirmed through re-isolations, and species identities were verified by PCR and gene sequencing. After confirming colonization, biological activity of the endophytes was assessed against pathogens. Conidium suspensions were either sprayed onto host wounds or applied systemically to cuttings, and necrotic lengths in internal tissues were measured 4 months after inoculations. In a subsequent field experiment, conidium suspensions were applied by spraying onto pruning wounds, or placing mycelium/agar plugs, and extent of necroses was assessed 6 months after inoculations. Penicillium and Trichoderma species colonized internal tissues of grapevine plants, whereas Aspergillus species were not re-isolated. In greenhouse trials, the endophytes reduced lesion lengths caused by Botryosphaeriaceae species by 22 to 85 %. Under field conditions, and where applied to pruning wounds, these fungi gave 51 to 70% protection against Lasiodiplodia brasiliensis and Neofusicoccum parvum, with Trichoderma brevicompactum giving greatest efficacy. This study has shown that vineyard-derived Penicillium and Trichoderma endophytes can establish within grapevine tissues, and have potential to effectively suppress Botryosphaeriaceae pathogens of grapevines.

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