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Influence of Plant Residues on Sclerotium rolfsii and Inhibitory Soil Microorganisms¹

Effects of certain dry-plant residues on Sclerotium rolfsii and inhibitory soil microorganisms were investigated with regard to the potential value of these residues in biological control of the pathogen. Average daily growth rates of both S. rolfsii and Trichoderma sp. in sterilized soil containing oat-residue substrate were reduced in comparison to growth rates with residues of clover, peanut, vetch, or corn. However, the least growth of Trichoderma always exceeded the best growth of the pathogen. Sclerotium production by S. rolfsii and sporulation by Trichoderma were greatly increased in sterilized soil amended with either oat or corn residue. Additions of oat residue to natural soil resulted in severe mycelial degradation and an inhibitory effect upon sclerotial germination. Experiments with sterilized soil inoculated with known inhibitory microorganisms revealed that the biological control effect in oat-amended soil may be attributed primarily to Trichoderma sp. and certain bacteria.

Key Words: fungistasis of plant residues • biological control of Sclerotium rolfsii

² Research Agronomist, Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA, and Professor, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.

Received for publication May 1, 1967.