Approaches to genetic stability, persistence and biological control ofPenicillium oxalicum strain 212

Abstract: This study focuses on the genetic stability, persistence and biological control ofPenicillium oxalicum strain 212 (PO212). In this study, we demonstrated that PO212 was moreeffective for controlling Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) in tomato plants than 13other P. oxalicum strains. When PCR using a specific primer pair for PO212 was combined withserial dilutions of soil on semi-selective media (PoIM) PO212 can be identified and quantifiedfrom peat in presence and in absence of tomato plant. Finally, this strain was genetically stableafter 2 years of long-term preservation.