Biological control of wood decay fungi. - Part II. Effects of exogenous nitrogen on effectiveness
IRG/WP 00-10360
E A Canessa, J J Morrell
The effects of nitrogen (urea and ammonium nitrate) on the ability of Trichoderma harzianum to inhibit the enzyme capabilities and decay capacities of Trametes versicolor and Gloeophyllum trabeum were investigated using a small wood sandwich decay test. The biocontrol fungus generally had a greater effect on the brown rot fungus, confirming previous reports. Nitrogen produced inconsistent effects on biocontrol outcome and it would appear that nitrogen addition would only be useful in instances where a limited number of organisms. The white rot fungus was far less sensitive to the biocontrol fungus, which appeared to stimulate laccase production. These findings have important implications wherever biocontrol organisms are used under conditions where white rot fungi will tend to predominate.