Manipulation of Rhizosphere Bacterial Communities to Induce Suppressive Soils

Naturally occurring disease-suppressive soils have been documented in a variety of cropping systems, and in many instances the biological attributes contributing to suppressiveness have been identified. While these studies have often yielded an understanding of operative mechanisms leading to the suppressive state, significant difficulty has been realized in the transfer of this knowledge into achieving effective field-level disease control. Early efforts focused on the inundative application of individual or mixtures of microbial strains recovered from these systems and known to function in specific soil suppressiveness. However, the introduction of biological agents into non-native soil ecosystems typically yielded inconsistent levels of disease control. Of late, greater emphasis has been placed on manipulation of the cropping system to manage resident beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms as a means to suppress soilborne plant pathogens. One such strategy is the cropping of specific plant species or genotypes or the application of soil amendments with the goal of selectively enhancing disease-suppressive rhizobacteria communities. This approach has been utilized in a system attempting to employ biological elements resident to orchard ecosystems as a means to control the biologically complex phenomenon termed apple replant disease. Cropping of wheat in apple orchard soils prior to re-planting the site to apple provided control of the fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani AG-5. Disease control was elicited in a wheat cultivar-specific manner and functioned through transformation of the fluorescent pseudomonad population colonizing the rhizosphere of apple. Wheat cultivars that induced disease suppression enhanced populations of specific fluorescent pseudomonad genotypes with antagonistic activity toward R. solani AG-5, but cultivars that did not elicit a disease-suppressive soil did not modify the antagonistic capacity of this bacterial community. Alternatively, brassicaceae seed meal amendments were utilized to develop soil suppressiveness toward R. solani. Suppression of Rhizoctonia root rot in response to seed meal amendment required the activity of the resident soil microbiota and was associated with elevated populations of Streptomyces spp. recovered from the apple rhizosphere. Application of individual Streptomyces spp. to soil systems provided control of R. solani to a level and in a manner equivalent to that obtained with the seed meal amendment. These and other examples suggest that management of resident plant-beneficial rhizobacteria may be a viable method for control of specific soilborne plant pathogens.     

The role of organic amendments to soil for crop protection: Induction of suppression of soilborne pathogens

Application of external organic inputs to soils can be considered as one of the most ancient strategies in agriculture, and it has been commonly used since the very beginning of human-based agricultural practices. During all this time, application of several organic matters to agricultural soils has demonstrated their benefit to plants and soils. Organic amendments have proved to be useful in recovering soil properties, improving soil quality and, in some cases, can be directly involved in providing beneficial effects to plants. All these obtained effects finally lead to an increase in crop protection and sustainability. One most expected effect caused by the application of organic amendments, is the suppression of a wide range of soilborne pathogens (mainly bacterial and fungal pathogens) due to the induction of physicochemical and biological changes in soils. In order to get insight into the nature of the induced soil suppression of soilborne plant pathogens, the analysis of the physical, chemical and the microbial changes, pointed to the key role of beneficial activities produced by soil microorganisms finally adapted to the environmental changes produced by the influence of organic amendments. As shown in the case studies reported here, participation of soil microbes specifically selected after organic amendment is crucial in the control of fungal soilborne diseases. Moreover, the development of “omics” approaches allowed these recent studies to go one step further, revealing the main actors involved in the induced soil suppressiveness and their activities. Thus “omics” techniques will help to understand the soil and its microbiome as a whole system, and to assign the important roles of its biological components.     

Evaluation of monoammonium phosphate and bacterial strains to increase tree growth and fruit yield in apple replant problem soil

The long-term effects of biological agents alone and in combination with monoammonium phosphate on tree growth and fruit production of apple trees planted on apple replant soil was studied for five years. Application of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) in the year of planting increased shoot growth, cross-sectional trunk area and fruit yield of McIntosh on M.26 rootstock for the first two years. The application of bacterial agents alone were not effective in increasing young tree growth except BACT-1 in 1987. None of the bacterial agents increased fruit yield when applied alone. The addition of certain bacterial agents to MAP application increased young tree growth in various years. The combination of bacterial agent B-10 and MAP reduced young tree growth and yield compared with the MAP treatment alone. These results suggest that the application of MAP alone may be sufficient to alleviate the replant problem and the addition of BACT-1, EBW-4 or B8 bacterial agents to this treatment may be beneficial to increase tree growth in some years. Contribution number 822. Contribution number 822.     

棉隆熏蒸处理对平邑甜茶幼苗生长和生物学特性及土壤环境的影响

本试验以苹果砧木平邑甜茶幼苗为试材,通过温室与露地盆栽两种方式,研究不同浓度(0、0.1、0.2、0.4 g·kg^-1)棉隆熏蒸对连作土壤微生物环境和平邑甜茶幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:不同浓度的棉隆熏蒸均能促进连作土壤中平邑甜茶幼苗的生长,其中以0.2 g·kg^-1处理的效果最显著。0.2 g·kg^-1棉隆熏蒸下,平邑甜茶幼苗在温室和露地条件下的株高、地径、地上部干质量、地下部干质量分别比连作对照提高了192.9%和91.8%、72.8%和60.1%、196.8%和195.0%、138.5%和130.7%;幼苗根系相关指标(根长、根面积、根体积、根系呼吸速率)也明显优于其他处理;幼苗根系的超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶活性分别比连作对照提高了114.6%和118.5%、123.5%和107.6%、164.6%和175.6%;幼苗根系的丙二醛含量也显著低于其他处理。随着棉隆施用浓度的增加,土壤细菌含量、真菌含量、尖孢镰孢菌基因拷贝数、土壤酶活性均显著降低,连作土壤真菌群落结构也发生了不同程度的改变。综上,0.2 g·kg^-1棉隆熏蒸可以提高连作平邑甜茶幼苗生物量,改善土壤环境,有效缓解平邑甜茶的连作障碍。在苹果老果园重茬建园时,可以优先考虑0.2 g·kg^-1的棉隆熏蒸处理。     

环渤海湾苹果产区老果园与连作果园土壤线虫群落特征

应用类群多样性、类群丰富度、个体密度和功能类群指数等群落参数,于2009年5-10月分3次对环渤海湾苹果栽植区老果园不同位置和连作果园取样研究了土壤线虫群落特征。结果表明:苹果连作对果园土壤生物环境具有明显的恶化作用,连作果园土壤环境条件恶劣;对功能类群指数的统计表明,苹果连作明显改变了果园土壤中植物寄生性线虫r-选择和k-选择的比例,与自由生活线虫比较,连作对植物寄生线虫影响更明显;连作提高了果园的土壤线虫PPI/MI,说明连作对果园土壤健康的扰动最大;土壤不同食性线虫数量统计结果显示,环渤海湾苹果栽植区植食性线虫数量未达线虫伤害阈值,线虫不是引起环渤海湾地区苹果连作障碍的主要原因。     

甘薯兼抗薯瘟病和蔓割病种质筛选鉴定

用甘薯瘟2个致病型菌株对557份甘薯品种(系)分菌系做盆苗和田间接种鉴定,并用蔓割病菌接种鉴定.结果表明,筛选出兼抗薯瘟病2个菌系的品种(系)31份,兼抗甘薯瘟和蔓割病的品种(系)有16份,其中泉薯860、泉薯854、金山93、榕选416、金山908、广薯88-70和泉薯853等7份与我省主栽抗病品种湘薯75-55(CK)相比,具有类似的双抗性能力,而其抗瘟能力更强.福薯87、林泗2号、金山57和湛93-16等4份对照品种只抗单个病害或兼抗单个菌系.     

Evaluation of populations of fluorescent pseudomonads related to decline of take-all patch on turfgrass

Take-all on turfgrass caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. avenae (Gga) occurs as patches of yellowish plants. On some patches the central zone was recolonized by the same grass species, Festuca sp., previously damaged by the fungus despite the centrifugal extension of the disease. This disease remission was assimilated to decline. Rhizosphere bacterial counts showed that total population of bacteria was nearly the same in all zones across the patches. However, the ratio of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp./ total bacteria was 1/22, 1/15.4, 1/3.5 and 1/2.9 in the disease free area, the front margin of the patch, in the damaged part of the patch, and in the recolonized central part respectively. Furthermore, in this last mentioned zone, 44 to 82% of the fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. were antagonistic in vitro to Gga, whereas only 12 to 34% from the disease free area were antagonistic. So the development of take-all on turf induced quantitative and qualitative changes in populations of fluorescent pseudomonads. The remission of the disease in the center was correlated to higher amount of antagonistic fluorescent pseudomonads in this part of the patches. This typical patch with the well defined zones can provide a good model for the study of changes in bacterial populations related to the build up of take-all decline.     

Effects of soil pH and nitrogen fertility on the population dynamics of Thielaviopsis basicola

Black root rot of tobacco, caused by Thielaviopsis basicola, is generally severe at soil pH values >5.6 and suppressed under more acidic conditions (pH < 5.2). Soil acidifying fertilizers containing NH₄–N are generally recommended for burley tobacco production in North Carolina, but the effects of N form and application rate on development of black root rot and on the population dynamics of T. basicola have not been determined. Greenhouse and laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of N form (NH₄ ⁺ or NO₃ ^–) and rate on pathogen and disease parameters at several initial soil pH levels. A moderately-conducive field soil, initial pH 4.7, was adjusted to a pH of 5.5 or 6.5 by the addition of CaOH₂, then amended with the desired nitrogen form and rate. Pathogen populations were determined over time. In addition, spore production in extracts of roots from plants grown in the various nitrogen and pH treatments was determined. Finally, because tobacco responds to acidic soil conditions and exposure to NH₄–N by accumulating high concentrations of the polyamine putrescine, the toxicity of putrescine on vegetative growth and reproduction of T. basicola was investigated. Low soil pH and high levels of NH₄–N suppressed reproduction of T. basicola in soil and in root extract, while use of NO₃–N and depletion of NH₄–N resulted in rapid increases in populations of T. basicola. At 20 mM, putrescine inhibited hyphal growth by 60% and aleuriospore production by 98%. Fertilizers that reduced soil pH also reduced reproduction by T. basicola, and thus have potential for management of black root rot by suppressing populations of T. basicola over multiple years of crop production. The suppression of T. basicola and black root rot observed with NH₄–N amendments may partially be due to development of an inhibitory environment in the root and not solely to changes in rhizosphere pH.     

Natural suppression of take-all disease of wheat in Montana soils

This research was initiated to determine whether soils suppressive to take-all of wheat caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt) occur in Montana, and to identify the organisms most likely involved in this suppression. From an initial screening of eight soils collected from different wheat growing areas of Montana, two were highly suppressive to take-all. Microbial characterization of these soils indicated that different mechanisms were involved in the suppression. In Larslan soil, mycoparasitism appeared to be the main mechanism. Two different fungi with exceptional ability to reduce the severity of take-all were isolated from this soil. One of these fungi could parasitize the hyphae of Ggt. Field tests with these fungi in Ggt infested soil showed increases of over 100% in both harvestble tillers and grain yield as compared to treatments without these two fungi. In tests with 48 different bacteria and 10 actinomycetes from Larslan soil, none were able to consistently reduce severity of take-all alone, or in mixtures. In Toston soil, antibiosis by actinomycetes and perhaps the involvement of Pseudomonas spp. in production of antibiotics and/or siderophores appeared to be the most likely mechanisms involved in take-all suppression. Increases in shoot dry weight over that in the Ggt infested control using mixtures of pseudomonads and actinomycetes ranged from 25% to 87%. Actinomycetes added individually or in mixtures to soil infested with Ggt consistently reduced the severity of the disease to a greater extent than did mixtures of Pseudomonas spp.     

残次苹果发酵产物对连作土壤环境及‘平邑甜茶’幼苗生长的影响

在盆栽条件下,研究残次苹果发酵产物对连作土壤环境及平邑甜茶幼苗生长的影响,为减轻苹果连作障碍提供理论依据。试验以连作土壤为对照(CK),设置溴甲烷灭菌连作土壤(T₁)、连作土壤施加苹果发酵产物(T₂)、连作土壤施加灭菌苹果发酵产物(T₃)处理,测定了土壤和平邑甜茶幼苗的相关指标。结果表明: T₁、T₂、T₃能显著促进平邑甜茶幼苗的生长,其中以T₁和T₂的效果较好,其根系呼吸速率、株高、地径、鲜质量、干质量分别比CK提高了107.3%、50.6%、42.4%、171.7%、225.3%和104.4%、50.6%、42.3%、171.8%、225.5%。T₂和T₃提高了连作土壤中养分转化相关酶的活性,过氧化氢酶、脲酶、中性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性分别比CK提高了44.5%、169.5%、23.4%、169.3%和23.7%、72.6%、1.5%、121.5%;T₁处理的过氧化氢酶和蔗糖酶活性与CK无显著差异,脲酶和中性磷酸酶活性分别降低了40.8%和41.6%。T₂土壤铵态氮、硝态氮、速效磷和速效钾含量分别较CK提高了18.6%、50.6%、14.0%和36.7%;T₃只提高了速效氮的含量,铵态氮和硝态氮含量分别提高了7.0%和23.6%;T₁与CK相比速效养分含量有所降低。T₁和T₂显著降低了土壤放线菌和真菌数量,增加了细菌数量;T₃处理的细菌、放线菌和真菌数量均较CK显著降低。实时荧光定量PCR分析发现,T₁、T₂和T₃处理的层出镰孢菌、串珠镰孢菌、腐皮镰孢菌和尖孢镰孢菌基因拷贝数均较CK有不同程度的降低。表明苹果发酵产物处理能抑制连作土壤病原菌,改善土壤环境,促进平邑甜茶幼苗生长,可作为一种减轻苹果连作障碍的方法。     

Characterization of composted olive mill wastes to predict potential plant disease suppressiveness

Despite its proven agronomic value, the plant disease suppressive effect of composts from olive waste has not been adequately investigated. In the present study, the disease suppressive potential of two olive waste (OW) composts against soil-borne plant pathogens was investigated. Both OW composts showed sizeable, active microbial populations, which were able to grow actively on chitin and cellulose. In plate inhibition trials, OW compost water extracts (CWEs) exerted a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of the pathogens Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Fol), Pythium ultimum, Phytophtora infestans, Sclerotina sclerotiorum and Verticillium dahliae; and in pot experiments, the OW composts significantly reduced P. ultimum damping-off and Fol wilt diseases on tomato seedlings. The disease suppressive effect of OW composts seems to be due to the combined effects of suppression phenomena caused by the presence of microorganisms competing for both nutrients and space as well as by the activity of specific antagonistic microorganisms.     

Influence of the mycorrhizal fungus,Glomus coronatum,and soil phosphorus on infection and disease caused by binucleate Rhizoctonia and Rhizoctonia solani on mung bean (Vigna radiata)

Root-infecting fungal pathogens and also parasites, which do not cause major disease symptoms cause problems of contamination in pot cultures of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. We investigated the effect of the AM fungus, Glomus coronatum Giovannetti on disease caused by binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. (BNR) and R. solani in mung bean in the absence (P0) and presence (P1) of added soil phosphorus (P). When G. coronatum and BNR or R. solani were inoculated at the same time, G. coronatum improved the growth of the plants and reduced colonization of roots by BNR, but not by R. solani. R. solani reduced the growth of non-mycorrhizal mung bean in P0 soil 6 weeks after inoculation, whereas BNR had no effect on growth. G. coronatum reduced the severity of disease caused by BNR or R. solani on mung bean in both soil P treatments. When G. coronatum was established in the roots 3 weeks before BNR or R. solani was added to the potting mix, there was no significant effect of BNR or R. solani on growth of mung bean. Prior colonization by G. coronatum slightly reduced indices of disease caused by BNR or R. solani. In both experiments, addition of P stimulated plant growth and reduced the colonization of roots by BNR, but had little effect on disease severity. We conclude that the reduction of the effect of BNR or R. solani on mung bean could not be explained by improved P nutrition, but could be attributed to the presence of G. coronatum within and among the roots.     

Responses of a sterile red fungus to soil types,wheat varieties and the presence of certain isolates ofStreptomyces

The biological activities of a sterile red fungus (SRF) capable of plant growth promotion and suppression of take-all disease were investigated in soils collected from Lancelin, Newdegate and Mt. Barker regions of Western Australia. Further, the effects of three wheat cultivars and the presence of two isolates ofStreptomyces on the biological activities of the SRF were tested using the Lancelin soil. The biological activities of the SRF were greatest in the Lancelin and Newdegate (wheat field) soils and with the wheat cultivar Gutha. In in vitro studies the soil streptomycetes tested showed either a significant increase in the exudate production by the SRF, which had antifungal and growth promoting properties, or an inhibition of growth of the fungus. Streptomycete A63 which stimulated the exudate production by the SRF in vitro, however, did not enhance disease protection in vivo. On the other hand, protection from root rot by the SRF in vivo was reduced in the presence of the streptomycete isolate Ax which is capable of inhibiting the growth of the SRF in vitro.     

瓜菜枯萎病及生防根际微生物组研究进展

枯萎病是顽固性土传病害,称为瓜菜中的“癌症”,已成为制约我国瓜菜产业可持续健康发展的瓶颈问题。本文简要介绍瓜菜枯萎病危害,并从细胞壁降解酶、毒素、信号传导和致病基因等方面综述瓜菜枯萎病灾变机制,然后从根际微生物组自身与病原菌、土壤层面和植物层面等重点阐述了根际微生物组防治和抵御瓜菜枯萎病的机理,最后对枯萎病发生和抑制关键因子挖掘、核心微生物组构建及根际微生物组分子机制等进行了展望,期望生防微生物防治病害发生进入一个崭新且高效的阶段,为加快提升作物抗逆性机理研究提供一定思路。     

Effect of soil solarization on corn stalk rot

Seven weeks solarization of irrigated soil raised its temperature by 11.5°C over non-solarized soil at 10 cm depth and effectively controlled weeds (98.5%), stalk borer (8.9%) and stalk rot disease (69.1%) in corn. Solarization also reduced symptoms of Fusarium moniliforme and Macrophomina phaseolina significantly by 64.2% and 78.4%, respectively, and completely controlled M. phaseolina in corn cultivars, viz. Pool-10, Shaheen and Gauher. Whereas symptoms of F. moniliforme were observed in these cultivars, Fusarium graminearum was not observed except in two cultivars, Shaheen and Akbar. Growth of crop planted in solarized plots was better and it yielded almost one to three times more grains in cultivars under test. Soil analysis immediately following solarization revealed that essential elements were readily available in simpler forms, which may have increased pest resistance and reduced stalk breakage.     

Suppression of fusarium wilts by fluorescent pseudomonads: Mechanisms and applications

Fluorescent pseudomonads are involved in the natural suppressiveness of some soils to fusarium wilts. These bacteria have been applied successfully to suppress fusarium wilts of various plant species grown in conducive soils and growing substrates. Suppression of fusarium wilts by fluorescent pseudomonads can be ascribed to direct and indirect effects against pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum. Direct effects are expressed by a reduction of the saprophytic growth of the pathogen leading to delay and reduction of root infections. This antagonism was demonstrated to be related to siderophore‐mediated iron competition. Iron competition was also shown to enhance the antagonistic effect of non‐pathogenic F. oxysporum by making the pathogen more susceptible to fungal competition for carbon. Indirect effects of fluorescent pseudomonads against pathogenic F. oxysporum are mainly related to the induction of host plant resistance which can be associated with the bacterial lipopolysaccharides. Suppression of fusarium wilts by some fluorescent pseudomonads could also be related to their ability to detoxify fungal metabolites such as fusaric acid. Association of different mechanisms of suppression increases the efficacy and consistency of the biological control under various experimental conditions. Increased knowledge of mechanisms of suppression now enables management of the environment, to some extent, to favour expression of the beneficial activities. These activities are only expressed if the bacterial density is sufficiently high.     

甲壳素对连作条件下平邑甜茶幼苗生长及土壤环境的影响

研究在苹果连作土壤中添加甲壳素对苹果幼苗生长、土壤酶及土壤真菌群落结构的影响,探讨甲壳素缓解苹果连作障碍的可能性,为防控苹果连作障碍提供依据。盆栽条件下,以平邑甜茶幼苗为试材,在苹果连作土壤中分别添加0,0.5,1.0和2.5g/kg的甲壳素,测定了连作土壤中添加不同量的甲壳素后,幼苗生物量、根系保护酶活性、土壤主要酶(蔗糖酶、脲酶、磷酸酶等)活性以及土壤中真菌群落结构的变化。9月份结果表明,与对照相比,1.0 g/kg的甲壳素处理连作土,可显著提高平邑甜茶幼苗株高和干鲜重,分别比对照增加了36.8%、82.1%和100.8%;甲壳素处理能增加幼苗根系保护酶活性,其中1.0 g/kg甲壳素处理SOD、POD和CAT活性最高,其次为0.5 g/kg,而2.5 g/kg甲壳素处理显著抑制了幼苗根系保护酶活性。1.0 g/kg甲壳素处理可提高土壤中细菌/真菌值,并且提高了土壤中蔗糖酶、脲酶、蛋白酶、磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性,分别比对照提高了8.6%、40.5%、81.1%、15.3%、18.7%和49.8%,2.5 g/kg甲壳素处理则降低土壤酶活性或者使土壤酶活性与对照相当。根据T-RFLP的图谱中OUT的数量、种类及丰度,分别计算了不同处理土壤的真菌多样性,发现1.0 g/kg甲壳素处理的连作土具有最高的多样性、均匀度和丰富度指数,分别比对照增加了52.2%、8.0%和87.1%。主成分分析(PCA)结果显示,不同剂量甲壳素处理的连作土壤中真菌被PC2分成了两部分,其中0.5 g/kg和1.0 g/kg的甲壳素添加量分布在PC2的负方向上,而CK和2.5g/kg的甲壳素处理分布在PC2的正方向上,这说明添加不同量的甲壳素对连作土壤真菌群落多样性有显著影响,添加量太多或者太少均会造成土壤真菌多样性下降,只有适量的甲壳素可提高真菌群落结构多样性。实验结果表明1.0 g/kg的甲壳素可提高连作平邑甜茶幼苗生物量,改善连作土壤环境,有效缓解平邑甜茶的连作障碍。     

Computerized equipment to control soil water matric potential and soil temperature in inoculum potential assays of soil-borne pathogens

Computerized equipment to control soil temperature and soil water matric potential, at high soil hydric conditions was developed and evaluated. A series of experiments demonstrated the accuracy and reproducibility of the equipment's performance and its adequacy for the assessment of the inoculum potential of soil-borne pathogens in soils with different characteristics. Control of soil water potential is achieved by variation in the height of the water table in a medium with high water conductivity supporting the soil. The equipment consists of double-walled tanks, permitting the adjustment of soil temperature. It is provided with sensors, control software and valves for automatic operation. in a growth chamber at 24°C. with RH 70% and irradiation of 90 W.m^–2, was maintained in dynamic equilibrium for pF values ranging from 1 (–1 kPa) to 2 (–10 kPa) in various arable soil samples during the four to five weeks period of the bioassays. During the fourth week of pea or iris growth at pF=2, the system controlled within an amplitude of 0.4 pF-units. Between replications, variance was approximately 0.1 at F=2, decreasing with increasing. Soil temperature in the system could be maintained at a constant level with a variance below 0.1, within an amplitude of 0.3°C.     

Rapid bioassay of aluminum toxicity in soil

Fifty-five acid soil horizons from 19 profiles were evaluated for aluminum toxicity using root elongation as a criterion in a two-day petri dish bioassay. The method proved to be simple, efficient, and precise enough to clearly distinguish aluminum toxicity differences among horizons within and between profiles. Although toxicity patterns within profiles differed, it was common for surface horizons to be less toxic even when very acid. The R² for correlations of relative root lengths with pH in H₂O, pH in KCl, soluble and exchangeable aluminum and percent aluminum saturation were only 0.42, 0.45, 0.52, 0.66, and 0.54, respectively, which indicates the need for a bioassay. In a further use of the method, and to demonstrate its efficiency, 243 horizons from 26 profiles were screened. Approximately half of the horizons with a pH of 5.0 or below showed Al toxicity. When used by different operators, with a variety of soil and treatment parameter changes, the two-day bioassay in petri dishes gave consistent rankings of soils by degree of aluminum toxicity. Journal Paper 11690, Purdue University, Agricultural Experiment Station, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. Contribution from the Agronomy Department.     

Suppression of maize root diseases caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium graminearum by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria

A plant growth-promoting isolate of a fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. EM85 and two bacilli isolates MR-11(2) and MRF, isolated from maize rhizosphere, were found strongly antagonistic to Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium graminearum and Macrophomina phaseolina, causal agents of foot rots and wilting, collar rots/stalk rots and root rots and wilting, and charcoal rots of maize, respectively. Pseudomonas sp. EM85 produced antifungal antibiotics (Afa⁺), siderophore (Sid⁺), HCN (HCN⁺) and fluorescent pigments (Flu⁺) besides exhibiting plant growth promoting traits like nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and production of organic acids and IAA. While MR-11(2) produced siderophore (Sid⁺), antibiotics (Afa⁺) and antifungal volatiles (Afv⁺), MRF exhibited the production of antifungal antibiotics (Afa⁺) and siderophores (Sid⁺). Bacillus spp. MRF was also found to produce organic acids and IAA, solubilized tri-calcium phosphate and fixed nitrogen from the atmosphere. All three isolates suppressed the diseases caused by Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium graminearum and Macrophomina phaseolina in vitro. A Tn5:: lac Z induced isogenic mutant of the fluorescent Pseudomonas EM85, M23, along with the two bacilli were evaluated for in situ disease suppression of maize. Results indicated that combined application of the two bacilli significantly (P = 0.05) reduced the Macrophomina-induced charcoal rots of maize by 56.04%. Treatments with the MRF isolate of Bacillus spp. and Tn5:: lac Z mutant (M23) of fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. EM85 significantly reduced collar rots, root and foot rots, and wilting of maize caused by Fusarium moniliforme and F. graminearum (P = 0.05) compared to all other treatments. All these isolates were found very efficient in colonizing the rhizotic zones of maize after inoculation. Evaluation of the population dynamics of the fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. EM85 using the Tn5:: lac Z marker and of the Bacillus spp. MRF and MR-11(2) using an antibiotic resistance marker revealed that all the three isolates could proliferate successfully in the rhizosphere, rhizoplane and endorhizosphere of maize, both at 30 and 60 days after seeding. Four antifungal compounds from fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. EM85, one from Bacillus sp. MR-11(2) and three from Bacillus sp. MRF were isolated, purified and tested in vitro and in thin layer chromatography bioassays. All these compounds inhibited R. solani, M. phaseolina, F. moniliforme, F. graminearum and F. solani strongly. Results indicated that antifungal antibiotics and/or fluorescent pigment of fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. EM85, and antifungal antibiotics of the bacilli along with the successful colonization of all the isolates might be involved in the biological suppression of the maize root diseases.