Talaromyces trachyspermus a potential biocontrol agent for branched broom rape (Orobanche ramosa)

Broomrape (Orobanche spp.) is a parasitic plant that leads to significant losses in horticultural crops in Iran. To develop a strategy for biocontrol of broomrape fungal isolates were recovered from broomrape plants exhibiting signs of necrosis and wilt. One isolate with a high level of pathogenicity to broom rape was identified following pathogenicity tests. From cultural and DNA sequence this was identified as Talaromyces trachyspermus. Inoculation of the infected soil in pots with T. trachyspermus, caused a significant reduction in the number of tubercles and number and fresh weight of broomrape shoots (P=0.01). Inoculated parasitic plant shoots also showed rot symptoms in their stalk. No disease symptoms were observed on tomato. T. trachyspermus is a potential antagonist for biocontrol of broomrape.