Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is one of most serious fungal diseases on Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata). Eight fungal endophytes were isolated from a young heathy branch of Chinese fir and screened against the pathogen in vitro. One isolate, designated as SMEL1 and subsequently identified as Epicoccum dendrobii based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, suppressed mycelial growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on dual-culture plates. Additionally, E. dendrobii metabolites significantly decreased the biomass of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. E. dendrobii was able to enter the internal tissues of the host plant via stomatal cells. Metabolites of E. dendrobii significantly inhibited conidial germination and appressorium formation, which at least partly explained why the endophyte significantly inhibited lesion development caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on various host plants. We further confirmed that some components with antifungal activity could be extracted from E. dendrobii using ethyl acetate as an organic solvent. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. dendrobii as a potential biocontrol agent against a fungal phytopathogen.
Keywords: biological control; mycology.