In vitro Antagonistic Interactions Between Endophytic Basidiomycetes of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) and Ganoderma boninense

Ganoderma boninense is a white rot basidiomycete that causes basal stem rot disease of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). The aims of this study were to identify endophytic basidiomycetes occurring naturally within oil palm and to assess their potential as biocontrol agents against G. boninense strain PER71 in vitro. In total, 376 isolates were recovered from samples collected from the root, stem and leaves of oil palm using Ganoderma‐selective medium. Ten of these isolates (2.7% of the total 376 isolates) were identified as basidiomycetes on the basis of clamp connections and the production of poroid basidiomes after incubation in glass jars containing PDA medium for 7–12 days. The isolates were identified using ITS rDNA sequencing as Neonothopanus nambi (five isolates), Schizophyllum commune (four isolates) and Ganoderma orbiforme (one isolate). The N. nambi isolates showed the greatest antagonistic activity against G. boninense, based on 73–85% inhibition of the radial growth measurements of G. boninense in dual culture and 76–100% inhibition of G. boninense growth in a culture filtrate assay. Possible modes of action for the antagonism shown by N. nambi against G. boninense in vitro include competition for substrate availability, space and the production of non‐volatile metabolites or antibiotics that inhibited the growth of G. boninense. Further in vivo investigations are required to determine the ability of N. nambi isolates to colonize oil palm seedlings and to protect oil palm from infection when challenged with G. boninense.     

Macroalgal susceptibility to grazing by herbivore fish Siganus spp. at Gulf of Mannar reef,Indian Ocean

Environmental Biology of Fishes - Enhancing the herbivore fish stock is envisaged as a mitigation tool to reverse the macroalgal dominance in a coral reef environment. However, identifying the key...     

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of microbial-enriched compost tea on the development of powdery mildew on melon

This study evaluated the effects of microbial-enriched compost tea (CT) on the conidial germination of Golovinomyces cichoracearum DC. and development of powdery mildew on melons in a time-dependent manner. In vitro conidial germination was significantly reduced by 94?% and 85?% upon treatment with Daconil^? (fungicide) or microbial-enriched CT, respectively, 96?h after incubation (hai). Morphological analysis under light microscopy demonstrated that conidia co-incubated with microbial-enriched CT at 48?hai appeared ruptured, which contributed to higher inhibition of conidial germination, increased cell permeability and leakage of cellular contents. These observations may be explained by antibiosis. Moreover, different application time of microbial-enriched CT on melons significantly affected disease development. There was a delay in disease development by 12?days in plants treated with Daconil^?, microbial-enriched CT applied 24?h after inoculation and microbial-enriched CT applied simultaneously with inoculation when compared to the control treatment. Curative application of microbial-enriched CT (24?h after inoculation) delayed the onset of disease, and the efficiency of inhibition was comparable to a fungicidal spray (Daconil^?). Hence, microbial-enriched CT may be used to inhibit the development of powdery mildew on melons, thus reducing the dependency on chemical fertilisers.