Abstract : The intense use of pesticides in strawberry to control various diseases, induced pathogens increased resistance and environment pollution. The main purpose of the present study was to assess the efficacy of alternative methods for the control of grey mould, based on microbial products as well as their impact on structure and diversity of soil fungal communities. Previous research showed that microbial strains of bacteria or fungi were successfully utilized for the bio-control of plant pathogens in cultivated plants of horticultural or agricultural interest. The paper presents the results of the experiment designed in the field of Biophan S.A. in Arges county to assess the influence of two biological preparations of microbial origin, administered alone or along with chemical fungicides on the control of grey mould attack frequency, as well as on yields. A comparative study of fungal diversity was carried out in soil cultivated with strawberry plants cv. Senga Sengana. The new bio-control methods tested involve the increase of plant resistance under the influence of fungal preparations. The results confirmed that both bio-control agents administered alone or along with chemical fungicides were able to protect strawberry plants against the attack of grey mould. This has practical implications on yields quantity and quality, increased as compared with untreated control and healthy due to reduced pesticides consume in variants treated with biological and chemical control agents, or total absence when treated only with fungal preparations. An original aspect treated in the paper refers to the implications of bio-control agents of microbial origin on soil fungal coenoses. Species composition, diversity index, homogeneity and species status in soil fungal communities were studied. Results showed that preparations of fungal origin were able to stimulate immune reactions in strawberry plants, to reduce grey mould attack, thus manifesting a high biological efficacy and to increase yields. The paper reveals the benefits of alternative control methods proposed, based on reducing pesticides consume and activating natural defence mechanisms against pathogens for both healthy food and environment protection. Research was supported by PNCDI II Research Program, Projects nos. 31-078/2007 and 52-112/2008

fungi; diversity; plant resistance; strawberry; biological control

Presentation: oral