Degradation of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by fungus gnats (Bradysia coprophila) and the biocontrol fungi Trichoderma spp.

Our purpose was to evaluate the ability of fungus gnats (Bradysia coprophila) and mycoparasitic fungi, alone or in combination, to degrade sclerotia of the plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. A collection of potential mycoparasites was evaluated for the ability to degrade sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum in soil. The most effective isolate, Trichoderma hamatum TMCS-3, was combined with fungus gnats in laboratory pot tests. Fewer sclerotia survived in the combination treatments, compared to treatments with either organism alone, and the viability of sclerotia was reduced.