Tests in vitro are usually used for the initial selection of biocontrol agents against soil fungi, lacking methodologies using soil and/or substrate. The objective of this research was to accomplish the mass selection of fungi isolates antagonistic to F. solani and F. oxysporum in commercial substrate for seedlings. Two experiments were conducted, with the pathogens F. solani and F. oxysporum, and 98 possible antagonistic fungi of the genera Penicillium claviforme, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium. The suspension of the pathogens was inoculated in the substrate, in plastic cups, and the suspension of the other fungi was added five days later. The number of colony-forming unit of F. solani and F. oxysporum/g of substrate was counted after nine days. Of the 98 isolates used against F. solani, 43% did not differ from the control, and 57% reduced its development in the substrate, with the three best isolates belonging to the genus Penicillium claviforme. The three isolates of Penicillium claviforme selected for F. solani were also efficient against F. oxysporum.
biocontrol; soil fungi; Penicillium claviforme spp
