Role of Sporormiella similis as a potential bioprotectant of Populus tremuloides wood against the blue-stain fungus Ophiostoma piliferum

Interactions between Sporormiellasimilis Khan & Cain and the blue-stain fungus Ophiostomapiliferum (Fr.) H. & P. Sydow, both isolated from Populustremuloides Michx. wood, were investigated. Sporormiellasimilis significantly reduced the growth of O. piliferum in vitro when grown in dual culture, in addition to inhibiting the growth of O. piliferum on agar media and in liquid culture when treated with a culture filtrate of S. similis. Ophiostomapiliferum failed to colonize P. tremuloides wood chips when they were preinoculated with S. similis. Ten known compounds were isolated and identified from the culture filtrate of S. similis. These compounds showed varied fungitoxic effect against O. piliferum at concentrations of 1 to 1000 μg/mL. The potential for S. similis as a biological control agent against O. piliferum on P. tremuloides is discussed.