Plant-growth-promoting traits and antifungal potential of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YL-25

Biological control of plant soil-borne diseases has been shown as an attractive and an environment friendly alternative to chemical fungicides. Different microbial strains have been reported effective in controlling plant pathogens. Among those, Bacillus strains have their own importance. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain YL-25, isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy banana plant, was evaluated as bio-organic fertiliser (BIO) for its ability to promote plant growth and suppress Fusarium wilt of banana in pot experiment. The results showed that the application of the BIO containing strain YL-25 significantly promoted the growth of banana plants and decreased the incidence of Fusarium wilt compared to the organic fertiliser and chemical fertiliser (CF). In order to explore the beneficial mechanisms of strain YL-25, experiments were conducted in vitro. The phytohormones including indole-3-acetic acid and gibberellin A3 and stable antifungal compounds three homologous of iturin A were identified in the culture broth of strain YL-25. The strain YL-25 also showed the ability to degrade extracellular phytate in plate experiment. Owing to its innate multiple functional traits and biocontrol activity, the strain YL-25 may be used as plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium and biocontrol agent against Fusarium wilt of banana.     

有机物料减轻设施连作黄瓜苗期病害的微生物效应

在黄瓜已感染立枯病、枯萎病的连作土壤上,接种病原菌菌丝,施入3种不同组分有机物料(稻草、木屑、猪粪),分别用1％、2％、3％3种用量研究不同有机物料减轻黄瓜枯萎病、立枯病的效果．结果表明,抗病效果为稻草>猪粪>木屑处理,并随其用量的增加抗病效果更好．土培试验结果表明,增施有机物料后土壤中细菌、氨化细菌、放线菌、真菌数量增加．中稻草和猪粪对土壤微生物区系的影响大于木屑．施用稻草后不仅土壤细菌、真菌数量增加,而且放线菌数量最高,青霉、木霉成为真菌的优势种属．施用猪粪后土壤细菌数最多,以假单孢菌、芽孢杆菌为优势种属,真菌数也增多．木屑处理的细菌、放线菌、真菌数量增加较少,但随着施入时间延长效果增强．     

Impact of compost application on Fusarium wilt disease incidence and microelements contents of basil plants

Fusarium oxysporum was isolated from stem of basil plants showing symptoms of wilt, stem blight and collar root rot. Pathogenicity tests indicated that F. oxysporum f. sp. basilici is the causal agent of this disease. This is the first report of this pathogen in Egypt. The suppressive effects of six types of composts on Fusarium wilt disease incidence in basil were evaluated under greenhouse conditions. The effectiveness of these composts and their relation to the microelements content in treated plants was also assessed. Soil treatments with Khaya and Eucalyptus composts significantly reduced the infection percentage and disease severity of basil wilt. Otherwise, the applications of Araucaria, Datura, Ficus and Azadirachta composts showed no effect on both infection percentage and disease severity. Moreover, the Khaya and Eucalyptus compost treatments increased the levels of Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn) and Manganese (Mn) in treated basil plants than application of Araucaria, Datura, Ficus and Azadirachta composts. In the case of Copper (Cu) content, it was significantly higher only in Eucalyptus-compost-treated plants than in other compost applications. These composts not only reduced the disease incidence but also increased both fresh and dry weight (FW and DW) and microelements contented in basil treated plants. In general, although soil amendment with either Khaya or Eucalyptus compost can reduce the disease incidence of Fusarium wilt on basil plants, microelements contented; FW and DW of these effects can be variable depending on their levels added in soil. According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the use of compost in the soil as an organic fertiliser increased exchangeable form of microelements in the soil and also the availability of these elements by basil plants.     

Success evaluation of the biological control of Fusarium wilts of cucumber,banana, and tomato since 2000 and future research strategies

The Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum strains is the most devastating disease of cucumber, banana, and tomato. The biological control of this disease has become an attractive alternative to the chemical fungicides and other conventional control methods. In this review, the research trends and biological control efficiencies (BCE) of different microbial strains since 2000 are reviewed in detail, considering types of microbial genera, inoculum application methods, plant growth medium and conditions, inoculum application with amendments, and co-inoculation of different microbial strains and how those affect the BCE of Fusarium wilt. The data evaluation showed that the BCE of biocontrol agents was higher against the Fusarium wilt of cucumber compared to the Fusarium wilts of banana and tomato. Several biocontrol agents mainly Bacillus, Trichoderma, Pseudomonas, nonpathogenic Fusarium, and Penicillium strains were evaluated to control Fusarium wilt, but still this lethal disease could not be controlled completely. We have discussed different reasons of inconsistent results and recommendations for the betterment of BCE in the future. This review provides knowledge of the biotechnology of biological control of Fusarium wilt of cucumber, banana, and tomato in a nut shell that will provide researchers a beginning line to start and to organize and plan research for the future studies.     

Integrated and biological control of gladiolus corm rot and wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. gladioli

An isolate of Trichoderma virens Miller, Giddens & Foster, carboxin and a combination of both were evaluated for the control of gladiolus corm rot and wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. gladioli in glasshouse and field experiments. All treatments significantly reduced disease incidence in both glasshouse and field conditions. T. virens gave control at least as good as carboxin in all experiments. Control was significantly improved in two field experiments by combining the biological and chemical treatments.     

Biocontrol of Fusarium wilt disease in muskmelon with Bacillus subtilis Y-IVI

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis leads to severe economic losses. A bio-organic fertilizer (BIO) fortified with an antagonistic strain of Bacillus subtilis Y-IVI was used to control this disease. Pot experiments were carried out to investigate the efficacy and to elucidate biocontrol mechanisms for the disease. BIO significantly reduced the disease incidence. Population of F. oxysporum in plant shoots of the BIO treatment were about 1000-fold lower than the control. Population of Y-IVI remained high in muskmelon rhizosphere of the BIO treatment during the experiment. Concentration of antifungal lipopeptides, iturin A, in the BIO treatment was significantly higher than other treatments. Ten days after transplantation, the salicylic acid content in BIO-treated plant leaves was significantly higher than control. In conclusion, BIO effectively controlled muskmelon wilt, possibly because the antagonistic microbes effectively colonize the plant rhizosphere and shoots to preclude pathogen invasion. Furthermore, Y-IVI produces antifungal lipopeptides in the rhizosphere.     

Application of ozone on induction of resistance in Vigna unguiculata cv. Co 6, against Fusarium wilt

Abstract

The efficacy of ozone in controlling Fusarium oxysporum, the casual agent of wilt disease, was evaluated in Vigna unguiculata (cowpea). Different concentrations of ozone (T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅) were passed to the Vigna unguiculata seedlings among which T₃ treatment reduced Fusarium wilt more effectively than other treatments by enhancing growth promotion along with the activation of the defense-related enzymes than other treatments. T₃ treatment provokes enhanced biomass production along with increased activity of chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase than other treatments relative to control seedlings. Moreover, this is the first report of ozone protecting seedlings against Fusarium wilt of Vigna unguiculata plants.     

Influence of Plant Root Exudates, Germ Tube Orientation and Passive Conidia Transport on Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt by Strains of Nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum

In earlier studies, biological control of Fusarium wilt of cucumber induced by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum was demonstrated using nonpathogenic strains C5 and C14 of Fusarium oxysporum. Strain C14 induced resistance and competed for infection sites whether roots were wounded or intact, whereas strain C5 required wounds to achieve biocontrol. In the current work, additional attributes involved in enhanced resistance by nonpathogenic biocontrol agents strains to Fusarium wilt of cucumber and pea were further investigated. In pre-penetration assays, pathogenic formae specials exhibited a significantly higher percentage of spore germination in 4-day-old root exudates of cucumber and pea than nonpathogens. Also, strain C5 exhibited the lowest significant reduction in spore germination in contrast to strain C14 or control. One-day-old cucumber roots injected with strain C14 resulted in significant reduction in germ tube orientation towards the root surface, 48–96 h after inoculation with F. o. cucumerinum spores, whereas strain C5 induced significantly lower spore orientation of the pathogen and only at 72 and 96 h after inoculation. In post-penetration tests, passive transport of microconidia of pathogenic and nonpathogens in stems from base to apex were examined when severed plant roots were immersed in spore suspension. In repeated trials, strain C5, F. o. cucumerinum and F. o. pisi were consistently isolated from stem tissues of both cucumber and pea at increasing heights over a 17 days incubation period. Strain C14 however, was recovered at a maximum translocation distance of 4.6 cm at day 6 and later height of isolation significantly declined thereafter to 1.2 cm at day 17. In pea stem, the decline was even less. Significant induction of resistance to challenge inoculation by the pathogen in cucumber occurred 72 and 96 h after pre-inoculation with biocontrol agents. Nonetheless, strain C14 induced protection as early as 48 h and the maximum resistance was reached at 96 h. The presented data confirm the previous findings that attributes important for nonpathogenic fusaria to induce resistant are: rapid spore germination and orientation in response to root exudate; active root penetration and passive conidia transport in stem to initiate defence reaction without pathogenicity and enough lag period between induction and challenge inoculation. Strain C14 possesses all these qualifications and hence its ability to enhance host resistance is superior than strain C5.     

Land use intensification affects soil microbial populations, functional diversity and related suppressiveness of cucumber Fusarium wilt in China’s Yangtze River Delta

The extent of soil microbial diversity in agricultural soils is critical to the maintenance of soil health and quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of land use intensification on soil microbial diversity and thus the level of soil suppressiveness of cucumber Fusarium wilt. We examined three typical microbial populations, Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Fuasarium oxysporum, and bacterial functional diversity in soils from three different land use types in China’s Yangtze River Delta, and related those to suppressiveness of cucumber Fusarium wilt. The land use types were a traditional rice wheat (or rape) rotation land, an open field vegetable land, and a polytunnel greenhouse vegetable land that had been transformed from the above two land use types since 1995. Results generated from the field soils showed similar counts for Bacillus spp. (log 5.87–6.01 CFU g⁻¹ dw soil) among the three soils of different land use types, significantly lower counts for Pseudomonas spp. (log 5.44 CFU g⁻¹ dw soil) in the polytunnel greenhouse vegetable land whilst significantly lower counts for Fusarium oxysporum (log 3.21 CFU g⁻¹ dw soil) in the traditional rice wheat (or rape) rotation land. A significant lower dehydrogenase activity (33.56 mg TPF kg⁻¹ dw day⁻¹) was observed in the polytunnel greenhouse vegetable land. Community level physiological profiles (CLPP) of the bacterial communities in soils showed that the average well color development (AWCD) and three functional diversity indices of Shannon index (H′), Simpson index (D) and McIntosh index (U) at 96 h incubation in BIOLOG Eco Micro plates were significantly lower in the polytunnel greenhouse vegetable land than in both the traditional rice wheat (or rape) rotation land and the open field vegetable land. A further greenhouse experiment with the air-dried and sieved soils displayed significantly lower plant growth parameters of 10-old cucumber seedlings as well as significantly lower biomass and total fresh fruit yield at the end of harvesting at day 70 in the polytunnel greenhouse vegetable soil sources. The percentages of Fusarium wilt plant death were greatly increased in the polytunnel greenhouse vegetable plants, irrespective of being inoculated with or without Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. Our results could provide a better understanding of the effects of land use intensification on soil microbial population and functional diversity as well as the level of soil suppressiveness of cucumber Fusarium wilt.     

Effect of Brassica carinata (L.) biofumigants (seed meal) on chickpea wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris), growth,yield and yield component in Ethiopia

Pot experiments were carried out in the green house at Amhara Regional Agriculture Research Institute (ARARI) Bahirdar, Ethiopia to evaluate the potential of Brassica carinata cultivars namely; Holleta-l, S-67 and Yellow Dodola in 2007 and 2008. The treatment effects of B. carinata (L.) cultivars Holleta–1, S-67 and Yellow Dodola seed meals on chickpea fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris) were studied. Six rates of seed (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 g/kg of infested soil) were used. Infested soil without B.carinata cultivars amendments as a control and susceptible check variety JG-62 also without amendments were used in all the experiments. For each seed meal experiment, the treatments were arranged in factorial randomised complete block design in three replications. Data on seedling emergence, wilt incidence, fresh weight, dry weight, pod per plant, seed per pod, hundred seed weight and yield per hectare were collected. The amendments of infested soil with B.carinata cultivars seed meal reduced the incidence of chickpea fusarium wilt and increased yield per hectare. The interaction of the seed meal Holleta-1, S-67 and Yellow Dodola at 10–25 g/kg infested soil were effective in reducing wilt incidences on chickpea. However, the interaction of Yellow Dodola with 20 and 25 g seed meal per kg infested soil were the best combination in reducing significantly wilt incidence. The three cultivars incorporated at different level of doses significantly affected the influence of Fusarium wilt on the fresh weight, dry weight, pod per plant, seed per pod, hundred seed weight and yield per hectare. The highest yield kg/ha was recorded in combination of Yellow Dodola seed meal at 20 and 25 g followed by S-67 and Holleta-1 at 25 g /kg infested soil, respectively. The interaction of Holleta-1 at 5–25 infested soil significantly reduced disease incidence up to 16.7–43.3% and increased yield per hectare with mean by (30%) over the control. Seed meal amendment S-67 significantly reduce disease incidence 26.7–46.7% and increased yield kg/ha with mean by (36.7%) from the unamended control. Yellow dodola reduces disease incidence with 26.7–63.3% and increased yield kg/ha with mean by (45%) from the unamended control. The result indicates the potential of using Brassica crop seed meal amendment as useful component of integrated chickpea wilt management.     

Screening for effective microbial consortia against Fusarium wilt of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana)

Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) is one of the most devastating plant pathogens worldwide, causing vascular wilt in several crops. Management of this disease primarily relies on chemical fungicides and resistant cultivars in high value crops. However, due to the limited efficacy of these methods, alternative control methods are needed. Biological control is a sustainable, safe, and effective alternative, but the use of a single biological control agent (BCA) usually has inconsistent results. The consistency of biocontrol could be enhanced using microbial consortia. In this context, the aim of this work was to select an effective microbial consortium against vascular wilt in cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. physali, from a mixture of four strains of Trichoderma spp. Pers. (Hypocreales: Hypocraceae) and Bacillus velezensis (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) Bs006. The calculated synergy factor was used as a selection criterion. Then the selected consortium was evaluated in the field and compared to carbendazim. The Trichoderma virens Gl006 and B. velezensis Bs006 consortium showed synergistic activity against vascular wilt under greenhouse and field conditions and efficacy similar to chemical control. These results suggest that Gl006 and Bs006 have a higher potential in controlling Fusarium wilt in cape gooseberry when applied as a consortium compared to separate, single strains.

     

丛枝菌根真菌对黄瓜枯萎病的影响

Pot experiment was conducted to explore whether nursery inoculation of cucumber with Glomus etunicatum could alleviate fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. Four-week-old seedlings inoculated with Glomus etunicatum were infected with F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum by pouring conidial suspension. Biomass, contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), soluble sugar and free proline in roots, as well as the quantity of bacteria and fungi in rhizosphere were determined. The results indicated that the root dry weight of seedlings preinoculated with Glomus etunicatum increased by 9.3%; contents of soluble sugar and free proline in roots increased, and the quantity of fungi in rhizosphere decreased significantly. The disease incidence and disease index of Fusarium wilt were reduced. On the contrary, root dry weight of seedlings without inoculation with Glomus etunicatum was reduced by 28.0%. It is concluded that Glomus etunicatum is beneficial to biocontrol of Fusarium wilt of cucumber seedlings.     

丛枝菌根真菌对黄瓜枯萎病的影响

盆栽条件下播种黄瓜Cucumis sativus同时接种丛枝菌根真菌Glomus etunicatum,4周后对接种处理和对照黄瓜苗分别浇灌Fusairum oxysporum f.sp.cucumerinum分生孢子悬液,2周后测定幼苗生物量、根内丙二醛、可溶性糖与游离脯氨酸含量及根围真菌和细菌数量。结果表明:接种Glomus etunicatum根系干重增加了9.3%,提高了根内可溶性糖和游离脯氨酸含量,显著减少了根围真菌数量,降低了黄瓜枯萎病的发病率和病情指数。而不接种Glomus etunicatum的黄瓜苗根系干重减少了28.0%。研究认为AM真菌Glomus etunicatum对黄瓜枯萎病具有一定的生防价值。     

Control of nematode disease of egg plant (Solanum aethiopicum) using manure

Pot experiment was conducted in the year 2010 and repeated in 2011 to examine the effects of organic manure (poultry, cow dung and domestic waste) and inorganic manure (NPK 15:15:15) on the yield, soil and root population of Meloidogyne incognita-infected Ethiopian egg plant Solanum aethiopicum in a greenhouse at Kabba college of agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Kabba, Nigeria. Each of the organic manure was applied as soil amendment at the rate of 5t/ha and the inorganic fertiliser (NPK) was applied at the rate of 200?kg/ha, while there was an untreated control that acted as standard check. The experimental design was a completely randomised design comprising of five treatments including control and each of the treatments was replicated four times. The result of the experiment showed that all the organic manures considered and NPK fertilisers were effective in suppressing the nematode’s negative effects on the plant, as shown by the improved yield, reduced soil and root population as well as reduced gall index of the organic and inorganic manure-treated plant compared with the control. The mean fruit yield of the manure-treated plant was of the range 18?±?1 fruits and NPK fertiliser had an average of fruit number of 17, while the untreated control recorded an average fruit number of 6.5. The organic and inorganic manure-treated plants recorded bigger fruit size compared with control, and are significantly different from the control. The soil and root population as well as root gall index are reduced in all the manure treatments compared with the control and are significantly different from the control. The result of this experiment confirmed that organic manure can be utilised to manage nematode in soil endemic with root-knot nematode M. incognita.     

Response of rhizosphere microbial diversity and soil physico-chemical properties in a rotation of cucumber with Volvariella volvacea

Crop rotation can significantly increase yield by improving soil conditions through reducing soil pathogens and increasing the microbial diversity near the root system of the plant. Cucumber is widely consumed across the world, and monoculture of cucumber under greenhouse conditions is often threatened by Fusarium wilt, which is caused by fungi belonging to the genus Fusarium. In Jiangsu province of China, rotating cucumber crops with Volvariella volvacea is used as a way to control Fusarium wilt. Here, we tested how rotating cucumber with V. volvacea influences soil physico-chemical and biological properties. We found that rotating with V. volvacea improved bacterial diversity near the cucumber root system. We also found an increase in nitrogen-fixing bacteria that have been used for biological control of plant pathogens, and a decrease in Fusarium species. In the treated soil, we found increased activity of the soil enzymes catalase, dehydrogenase, polyphenol oxidase and alkaline phosphatase by 2–22%, 14–29%, 16–58% and 9–64%, respectively. Lastly, the total and available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content significantly increased one to three weeks after V. volvacea residual substrate was mixed into the soil, up to 39%, 24%, 17%, 28%, 18% and 70, but declined slowly afterwards. These results suggested that rotating cucumber with V. volvacea could aid in resetting the structure of the microbial community of the cucumber root system. Increase in beneficial microbes and improved soil conditions are likely to contribute to improved yield of this commercially important crop.     

Effect of Simulated Soil Solarization and Organic Amendments on Fusarium Wilt of Rocket and Basil Under Controlled Conditions

Pot trials were carried out under controlled conditions to evaluate the effectiveness against Fusarium wilt of rocket (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. conglutinans) and basil (F. oxysporum f.sp. basilici) of soil amendments based on a patented formulation of Brassica carinata defatted seed meal and compost, combined or not with a simulation of soil solarization. The soil solarization treatment was carried out in a growth chamber by heating the soil for 7 and 14 days at optimal (55–52°C for 6 h, 50–48°C for 8 h and 47–45°C for 10 h/day) and sub‐optimal (50–48°C for 6 h, 45–43°C for 8 h and 40–38°C for 10 h/day) temperatures similar to those observed in summer in solarized soil in greenhouses in Northern Italy. Two subsequent cycles of plant cultivation were carried out in the same soil. Even at sub‐optimal temperature regimes, 7 days of thermal treatment provided very valuable results in terms of disease control on both rocket and basil. In general, the thermal treatment was more effective against F. oxysporum f.sp. basilici than against F. oxysporum f.sp. conglutinans. Control of Fusarium wilt of rocket is improved with 14 days of thermal treatment. The combination of organic amendments with a short period of soil solarization (7 or 14 days), although not providing any improvement to the level of disease management, did significantly increase biomass and positively affected yield.     

石灰碳铵熏蒸与施用生物有机肥对连作黄瓜和西瓜枯萎病及生物量的影响

采用稀释涂布平板计数法,研究了石灰碳铵及碳铵熏蒸对黄瓜和西瓜连作土壤尖孢镰刀菌数量的影响,以及熏蒸后施用生物有机肥对黄瓜和西瓜枯萎病的防控效果及植株生长的影响.结果表明:与对照相比,石灰碳铵及碳铵熏蒸后,连作土壤中黄瓜尖孢镰刀菌的数量分别下降95.4%及71.4%,西瓜尖孢镰刀菌的数量分别下降87.2%及64.2%;多因素方差分析表明,熏蒸、施用有机肥及作物种类均对土壤中尖孢菌数量、枯萎病发病率、防控率及生物量有显著影响;与未熏蒸施用普通有机肥对照相比,石灰碳铵熏蒸后施用生物有机肥能显著减少后茬黄瓜或西瓜土壤中尖孢镰刀菌的数量并显著降低枯萎病发病率,防控率高达91.9%及92.5%,同时显著增加了植株的株高、茎粗、SPAD值及干质量.表明石灰碳铵熏蒸及施用生物有机肥能够降低土壤中尖孢镰刀菌数量,有效防控黄瓜和西瓜枯萎病的发生并促进其植株生长.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of a consortium of three plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria for biocontrol of cotton Verticillium wilt

We investigated the biocontrol efficacy of a consortium of three rhizobacteria (hereafter BBS) against cotton Verticillium wilt, along with the effect on plant growth, in a series of greenhouse and field experiments. BBS treatment inhibited germination of Verticillium dahliae spores by 88.4%. Under greenhouse conditions, BBS reduced Verticillium wilt by 86.1% compared to the untreated control, and promoted plant growth by 49.9%. In field experiments, nine L/acre of BBS suspension reduced Verticillium wilt by 76.0% and increased cotton yields by 13.7%. Soil inoculation with BBS also improved the breaking tenacity and uniformity index of harvested cotton. Soil properties improved with BBS treatment in field experiments, including an increase in organic matter and the availability of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). There was no significant difference in the biocontrol efficacy of BBS among eight tested cotton cultivars.     

Mechanism of application nursery cultivation arbuscular mycorrhizal seedling in watermelon in the field

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonisation of plant root facilitates the absorption of nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and enhances plant biotic and abiotic resistance generally. However, arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) colonisation decreases with application of chemical fertiliser. Here, we investigated whether AMF inoculation in nurseries would facilitate AM colonisation and take physiological and ecological functions in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in the field. Pot experiments were carried out to study the change of AMF colonised seedling on physiology and gene expression in nursery site. Field experiments were performed to investigate the effect of nursery AMF inoculation on yield, quality and disease resistance of watermelon in the field. The results showed that nursery‐inoculated seedlings produced more dry matter and root surface area than non‐inoculated seedlings. Expression of the secretory purple acid phosphatase (PAP) genes ClaPAP10 and ClaPAP26 was up‐regulated following AMF colonisation. Accordingly, acid phosphatase activities at the root surface and P concentrations in seedling were enhanced. After transplantation to the field, the shoot dry matter and P concentration in old stem were higher in the nursery AMF inoculated seedlings than that in non‐AMF inoculated seedling. AMF inoculation also induced increase of yields and decrease of wilt disease indexes and soluble sugar content. In addition, acid phosphatase activities and AMF spore densities were increased by nursery‐inoculation in watermelon rhizosphere soil in the field. In conclusion, nursery colonisation AMF seedling enhanced watermelon growth and yield by improving the root growth and P acquisition in nursery cultivating stage, as well as optimised soil properties in the field. Nursery cultivation of watermelon seedling with AMF was an effective technique to reduce wilt disease in continuous cropped management in watermelon.     

Effect of the combination of bio-organic fertiliser with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NJN-6 on the control of banana Fusarium wilt disease,crop production and banana rhizosphere culturable microflora

Soil amended with organic amendments has been suggested to be a strategy for managing the Fusarium wilt disease which severely hindered the banana production. The effects of four fertilisation regimes, including chemical fertiliser, manure composts and bio-organic fertiliser (BIO) containing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NJN-6 for 2-year continuous application on the banana Fusarium wilt disease incidence, crop yield and rhizosphere culturable microbial community were investigated. To explore the soil microflora, plate counting method, in vitro screening method for antagonism, eco-physiological index and culture-dependent denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis method (CD DGGE) were used. The highest banana yield, culturable bacteria, actinobacteria and Bacillus populations, culturable bacteria to fungi (B/F) value, antagonistic Bacillus ratio and lowest Fusarium wilt disease incidence were observed in the BIO treatment. Based on CD DGGE results, the BIO application significantly altered the soil bacteria structure and showed highest richness and diversity. The phylogenetic analysis of the selected bands showed that the most abundant phyla were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes and BIO application enriched the genera Comamonas, Chitinophaga, the species Bacillus flexus and uncultured Bacillus. All the results showed that 2-year continuous application of BIO containing B. amyloliquefaciens NJN-6 more effectively controlled Fusarium wilt disease and improved fruit yields under field conditions and modulated banana rhizosphere microflora.