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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (3): 171-176.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2025-0378

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Trichoderma harziensis Mixed with Different Microbial Agents for Cercospora Leaf Spot: Determination of Combined Virulence and Field Control Efficacy

GAO Bo(), HAO Yongli(), LI Zelin, DIAO Jiamei, LIU Qingpeng, ZHANG Wei   

  1. Chifeng Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia 024000
  • Received:2025-05-21 Revised:2025-10-11 Online:2026-02-15 Published:2026-02-09

Abstract:

In response to the severe damage caused by Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora beticola) on sugar beets in Inner Mongolia, and the issues of chemical control leading to resistance and a lack of highly effective compound microbial agents for biological control, this study aimed to develop green control technology for this disease. Using Cercospora beticola as the target pathogen, the individual toxicity of five microbial agents was determined via the mycelial growth rate method. Promising agents were selected and combined with Trichoderma harzianum in different ratios. The optimal combination ratio was screened through joint toxicity tests (Co-toxicity coefficient method, CTC), followed by field efficacy trials. The results showed that: (1) the order of individual toxicity was Trichoderma harzianum (EC50=0.10 μg/mL)> Paenibacillus polymyxa (EC50=0.90 μg/mL) > Bacillus mucilaginosus > Bacillus amyloliquefaciens > Bacillus subtilis. (2) Combinations of T. harzianum with the other four agents all showed synergistic effects. Among them, the mixture of 5×1010 cfu/g P. polymyxa and 1×1010 cfu/g T. harzianum at a 6:4 ratio exhibited significant synergy, with an EC50 value of 0.16 μg/mL and a co-toxicity coefficient of 139.35. (3) The field efficacy of this optimal combination reached 60.94%, significantly higher than that of individual agents (38.62%-50.64%). In conclusion, the compound agent of 5×1010 cfu/g P. polymyxa and 1×1010 cfu/g T. harzianum at a 6:4 ratio demonstrated excellent control efficacy against Cercospora leaf spot and can be recommended as a preferred option for its biological control. Future research should focus on elucidating the synergistic mechanisms of compound agents, optimizing formulation and application techniques to provide more robust technical support for the green control of Cercospora leaf spot in sugar beets.

Key words: Cercospora beticola, Trichoderma harzianum, microbial agent, virulence measurement, field control efficacy