Attempts to biocontrol woodstain caused by Ophiostoma species led to the development of an O. piliferum colorless mutant - Cartapip (AgraSoL). The mutant's ability to prevent sapstain of stored logs and lumber is tested in a variety of field trials in Germany, England, Canada and New Zealand. To carry out biocontrol field trials, users have to obtain a permit from a regulatory agency and have to develop specific detection tools for monitoring the growth and spatial distribution of the control agent in the field. In addition, information on the genetic relatedness of the biocontrol agent and the natural population has to be generated to facilitate the registration of the product. Using two different media and an incubation temperature optimal for Cartapip but slightly too high for sapstain fungi and molds, the presence of Cartapip could be monitored in a field trial. To examine the genetic relatedness of Cartapip and the wild type O. piliferum strains, the genetic variation of the ribosomal region and the b-tubulin gene was determined. Both the 18S and the 26S rDNA regions were quite conserved among the O. piliferum strains and Cartapip. Meanwhile, genetic variation was observed in the b-tubulin gene, which led to the design of a Cartapip-specific PCR-primer set. The usefulness of a specific enzyme-cutting site (SpeI) to monitor Cartapip was also tested. The specific primer and the restriction enzyme were able to differentiate Cartapip from the most O. piliferum strains tested. Finally the application of both monitoring strategies on wood was shown.

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