We studied the possibility that the antagonistic saprobe fungi Coriolopsis rigida Trametes versicolor Fusarium lateritium Penicillium chrysogenum and Verticillium dahliae-2379 may control V dahliae disease through the inhibition of the activity of hydrolytic enzymes produced by the pathogen These saprobe fungi were able to decrease the growth in vitro of V dahliae The exudates produced by these fungi seemed to be the main factor responsible for their antagonistic effect. The exudates of all the fungi tested had endopolymethylgalacturonase endoglucanase and endoxyloglucanase activities Exudates of P cluysogenum and V dahliae-2379 had higher hydrolytic activities than those of V dahliae The saprobe V dahliae-2379 did not decrease the growth of the pathogen V dahliae but decreased its harmful effect on the growth of tomato However no inhibition of the activities of the hydrolytic enzyme of the pathogenic V dahliae by the no pathogenic V dahliae-2379 or by the other saprobe fungi was observed Nevertheless, the protection of tomato by the five antagonistic saprobe fungi against V dahliae disease could be carried out by the induction of plant defense by the hydrolytic enzymes produced by these fungi (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved