Selective colonization and removal of senescent flowers of zucchini squash by Trichoderma hrzianum YC459, a biocontrol agent for gray mold, Botrytis cinerea

In commercial greenhouses, senescent flower petals or flowers of vegetables such as tomato, strawberry, hot pepper and zucchini squash were blighted to be removed from fruits within five days after spraying of Trichoderma harzianum YC459 (TORY), a biocontrol agent for the gray mold rot of vegetables caused by B. cinerea The mechanism for selective colonization of senescent floral tissues by T. harzianum YC459 was elucidated using fresh and senescent (Hays and 14days after flowering, respectively) floral tissues of zucchini squash (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne). The spores of T. hrzianum YC459 were produced more on agar and liquid culture media supplemented with 5％ dry powder of senescent floral tissues than fresh tissues during 15days. Mycelial growth was also much better in the media with senescent tissues than with fresh tissues. Enzyme activities of amylase, polygalacturonase and cellulase in the liquid media which might be involved in the colonization of tissues by T. harzianum YC459 were compared. The activities of three enzymes were much higher in the media with senescent floral tissues than with fresh floral tissues reaching to the maximum during 9 to 12days of incubation. Based on the results, the removal of senescent floral tissues, a possible inoculum source of the pathogen, may be another mechanism for biocontrol of gray mold rot of vegetables by T. harzianum YC459.