Fungal endophyte Epicoccum nigrum 38L1 inhibits in vitro and in vivo the pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum

• Strain 38L1 was identified as Epicoccum nigrum using molecular analyses. • E. nigrum strain 38L1 has antagonistic activity against selected fungal pathogens in vitro . • Culture filtrates produced by strain 38L1 inhibited F. graminearum strain PH-1. • Strain 38L1 has biocontrol efficacy against F. graminearum strain PH-1 in vitro and in vivo . • Endophyte strain 38L1 reduced the severity of Fusarium head blight under growth chamber and field conditions. Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and its products constitute a major part of the daily human and animal diet. However, Fusarium head blight caused by Fusarium graminearum is one of the most devastating fungal diseases in wheat. In this study, a fungal endophyte strain 38L1 was newly isolated from leaf of maize ( Zea mays L.) and identified as Epicoccum nigrum using molecular phylogenetic analysis of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU) and beta-tubulin ( TUB ) gene sequences. In dual cultures and double plate assays, strain 38L1 markedly inhibited the mycelial growth of F. graminearum strain PH-1 and four other pathogenic fungi including Botrytis cinerea strain P -1, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides strain Y-3, Botrytis cinerea strain F-2, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum strain D-4, indicating a broad antifungal activity. Besides, culture filtrates of strain 38L1 indicated a high fungicidal effect resulting in a significant reduction of mycelial growth, mycelial biomass and spore germination of F. graminearum strain PH-1. Furthermore, the application of conidial suspensions and/or culture filtrates of E. nigrum strain 38L1 with spore suspensions of F. graminearum strain PH-1 on wheat spikes resulted in a significant biocontrol efficacy of Fusarium head blight in growth chamber and field conditions. Hence, these results suggest that E. nigrum strain 38L1 could be a potential biocontrol agent against F. graminearum strain PH-1 in vitro and in vivo .