ROLE OF SPORORMIELLA-SIMILIS AS A POTENTIAL BIOPROTECTANT OF POPULUS-TREMULOIDES WOOD AGAINST THE BLUE-STAIN FUNGUS OPHIOSTOMA-PILIFERUM

Interactions between Sporormiella similis Khan and Cain and the blue-s tain fungus Ophiostoma piliferum (Fr.) H. and P. Sydow, both isolated from Populus tremuloides Michx. wood, were investigated. Sporormiella similis significantly reduced the growth of O. piliferum in vitro when grown in dual culture, in addition to inhibiting the growth of O. pil iferum on agar media and in liquid culture when treated with a culture filtrate of S. similis. Ophiostoma piliferum failed to colonize P. tr emuloides wood chips when they were preinoculated with S. similis. Ten known compounds were isolated and identified from the culture filtrat e of S. similis. These compounds showed varied fungitoxic effect again st O. piliferum at concentrations of 1 to 1000 mu g/mL. The potential for S. similis as a biological control agent against O. piliferum on P . tremuloides is discussed.