*Article Streptomyces albidoflavus* **Strain CARA17 as a Biocontrol Agent against Fungal Soil-Borne Pathogens of Fennel Plants**

**Antonia Carlucci \*, Maria Luisa Raimondo \*, Donato Colucci and Francesco Lops**

Department of Agricultural Sciences, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering, University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71122 Foggia, Italy; donatocolucci.dc@gmail.com (D.C.); francesco.lops@unifg.it (F.L.)

**\*** Correspondence: antonia.carlucci@unifg.it (A.C.); marialuisa.raimondo@unifg.it (M.L.R.)

**Abstract:** Fennel crop is a horticultural plant susceptible to several soil-borne fungal pathogens responsible for yield losses. The control of fungal diseases occurring on fennel crops is very difficult with conventional and/or integrated means; although several chemical fungicides are able to contain specific fungal diseases, they are not registered for fennel crops. The intensive use of some fungicides causes public concern over the environment and human health. The main aims of this study were to assess the ability of a strain of *Streptomyces albidoflavus* CARA17 to inhibit the growth of fungal soil-borne pathogens, and to protect fennel plants against severe fungal soil-borne pathogens such as *Athelia rolfsii*, *Fusarium oxysporum*, *Plectosphaerella ramiseptata*, *Sclerotinia sclerotiorum* and *Verticillium dahliae*. This study confirmed that the CARA17 strain has been able to inhibit the mycelium growth of pathogens in vitro conditions with significant inhibition degrees, where *S. sclerotiorum* resulted in being the most controlled. The strain CARA17 was also able to significantly protect the fennel seedlings against fungal soil-borne pathogens used in vivo conditions, where the treatment with an antagonist strain by dipping resulted in being more effective at limiting the disease severity of each fungal soil-borne pathogen. Moreover, any treatment with the CARA17 strain, carried out by dipping or after transplanting, produced benefits for the biomass of fennel seedlings, showing significant effects as a promoter of plant growth. Finally, the results obtained showed that CARA17 is a valid strain as a biocontrol agent (BCA) against relevant fungal soil-borne pathogens, although further studies are recommended to confirm these preliminary results. Finally, this study allowed for first time worldwide the association of *Plectosphaerella ramiseptata* with fennel plants as a severe pathogen.

**Keywords:** microbial antagonist; *Athelia rolfsii*; *Fusarium oxysporum*; *Plectosphaerella ramiseptata*; *Sclerotinia sclerotiorum*; *Verticillium dahliae*; biological control
