Effect of the combined application of Pochonia chlamydosporia (Goddard) Zare & Gams AND Trichoderma asperellum Samuels, Lieckfeldt & Nirenberg on banana vitroplants (Musa sp.)

The objective of this work was to evaluate the in vitro and ex vitro combination of P. chlamydosporia (IMI SD 187) and Trichoderma asperellum (Ta. 13) in the acclimatization of banana vitroplants Bluggoe type (AABB) ‘FHIA-03’.Firstly, the in vitro compatibility, through space competence (radial growth) and growth inhibition percentage at 24, 48, and 120 h, was assessed by the dual culture technique. In second place, it was evaluated the application of these fungi separately or in combination during the ex vitro adaptation phase of the vitroplants. In total, 12 treatments were included, the treaments with each fungus and the control without fungus. The vitroplants were transplanted into polypropylene trays of 70 alveolus containing red ferralitic lixiviated soil and organic amendment (1:3 v/v) as substrate. P. chlamydosporia strain IMI SD 187 (KlamiC® Bionematicide) was applied with T. asperellum strain Ta.13 (SevetriC Biofungicide) by submerging the root before transplanting or by spraying the plant at 3 and 20 days post planting. The trays were randomly arranged in the adaptation area. At 30 days, the plant vegetative growth and the substrate and root colonization by P. chlamydosporia were assessed. In vitro, T. asperellum grew faster than P. chlamydosporia, but there was no direct hyphal contact between them. P. chlamydosporia colonized the root system and the rhizosphere of banana vitroplants when this fungus was applied separately or in combination with T. asperellum; both fungi promoted vitroplant growth. The results show that P. chlamydosporia and T. asperellum are good candidates for banana biomanagement strategies.