Abstract

Diplodia seriata is one of the fungal pathogens associated with Botryosphaeria dieback in Vitis vinifera. Chemi-cal fungicides have been used for its control, which can impact the environment along with human and animal health. Thus, it is important to find alternatives to these chemicals such as the use of biocontrol agents. The mix-ture of two Ascomycota fungi named Trizian1 and Clo-sea1 (MBTC®), has proved its ability to control D. seria-ta under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions. MBTC is the active ingredient of a new bioformulation (Formulation-MBTC), which must be tested for the bio-control of D. seriata, both in vitro and in vivo, and com-pared to the biocontrol effect of MBTC. In vitro assays used dual cultures experiments, while in vivo assays used wounded vine canes (simulating pruning wounds) inocu-lated with D. seriata, in the presence and absence of For-mulation-MBTC. The biocontrol effect of Formulation-MBTC was compared with that of MBTC. Controls were set up using the excipients of the formulation, methylthi-ofanate (MTF) and a commercial biofungicide contain-ing Trichoderma sp. Results showed there were no dif-ferences between Formulation-MBTC and MBTC on the antagonism against D. seriata in in vitro assays, and that Formulation-MBTC maintained the biocontrol activity of MBTC on D. seriata, in in vivo assays, being identical to that of MTF. It may be concluded that Formulation-MBTC may be used for the control of D. seriata.