PROSPECTS OF USING THE FUNGUS CLONOSTACHYS ROSEA AS A PHYTOPARASITIC NEMATODE CONTROL METHOD

Plant protection issues are among the most important in the context of obtaining high yields. Phytoparasitic nematodes spread throughout in the Russian Federation, and a wide range of affected crops indicate the need to use effective drugs against this parasite. It is estimated that crop yields decrease by 20–60% if phytoparasitic nematodes are present in soil. The active development of research in the creation of biological products based on natural organisms is highly relevant. This can reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and minimize a negative impact on the environment. Clonostachys rosea has recently been studied as a biological alternative to chemical nematicides to control phytoparasitic nematodes. It is a saprophytic filamentous fungus belonging to the Phylum Ascomycota. Clonostachys rosea is widespread throughout the world and is found in many habitats, most often soil. C. rosea was pre-cultured in Petri dishes on the Czapek's medium. Five hundred nematodes Ditylenchus destructor were added to experimental Petri dishes. At 5 days of incubation at room temperature, free larvae were isolated from the Petri dishes using a Baermann funnel. The isolated nematodes were counted and compared with control samples. The conducted experiments showed high biological efficacy of this fungus. The reduction in nematode population associated with the antagonistic activity of the fungus under laboratory conditions was 94.7%. It is suggested that the likely mechanism responsible for the antagonism is antibiosis due to the production of nematocidal compounds rather than direct parasitism. The optimum temperature for the growth of C. rosea is 25–28 ℃; the growth rate slows down at 22 ℃. The temperature regime affects predatory activity of the fungus. The experiment results indicate the potential of this fungal strain as a promising biocontrol agent to control plant nematodes in the southern regions of the country, especially as part of an integrated pest control approach.