A possible role for 2-furaldehyde in the biological control of white root disease of rubber

Abstract

Different control methods were tested against rigidoporus lignosus mycelial cord growth in soil in highly artificial conditions. 0.2 per cent furfuraldehyde in malt extract agar caused 50 per cent inhibition of the growth of R. lignosus. Effect of soil fumigation with furfuraldehyde, addition of sterilized oat bran to soil and addition of spores of trichoderma strains to soil were evaluated. A 45 per cent inhibition of mycelial cord growth was achived by the addition of spores of trichoderma harizanum (strain TV 12b) along with sterilized oat bran as 0.5 per cent supplement to soil. Combination of treatments did not increase the inhibition than did either treatments alone. Different trichoderma species behaved differently in fumigated or unfumigated soil. Soil fumigation with furfuraldehyde enhanced growth of other fungal inhabitants simultaneously reducing R. lignosus growth.