Antagonistic microorganisms can slow down the infection of Fusarium oxysporum in gerbera plants. This is evident from a study by WUR titled “Biorationals in IPM against subterranean diseases in gerbera cultivation”. Furthermore, the research indicates that F. oxysporum f.sp. gerberae can infect gerberas through both above-ground parts and the root. The infection through the root is faster because it can spread through the plant via the sap flow in the capillaries.
The non-pathogenic Fusarium limits the number of places where infection occurs, leads to smaller infection sites in the tissue, and seems to mainly restrict itself to growth around the cells rather than inside the cells themselves. Additionally, the non-pathogenic Fusarium reduces the number of infection sites. This also results in smaller infection sites in the tissue and appears to mainly limit itself to growth around the cells rather than inside the cells. Two other antagonists against plant pathogenic (GFP)-Fusarium were also tested in planta. Streptomyces k61 and Trichoderma asperellum T34 limit the growth of (GFP)- F. oxysporum f.sp. gerberae in the plant, although these species seem to inhibit the plant pathogenic Fusarium slightly less than F. oxysporum Fo47.
Source: WUR