Impact of salinity stress on soil-borne fungi of sugarbeet

The sugarbeet cultivar Kaumera was found to be highly susceptible to infection by the root-rot pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii in the absence of salinity stress. Under this environmental condition, R. solani was more efficient than S. rolfsii in producing cell wall-degrading enzymes in infected hypocotyls. Xylanase and galactanase were most effective. The rate of cell wall degradation by R. solani was nearly 2.5 times that of S. rolfsii when cells walls of healthy hypocotyls were used as sole carbon substrate for the in vitro produced crude enzymes.Under salinity stress the pathogenicity and the performance of cell wall-degrading enzymes of R. solani and S. rolfsii varied profoundly. Pathogenicity studies showed that R. solani appeared to be more tolerant than S. rolfsii of the salinity stresses applied, and relatively more virulent to cv Kaumera. The activities of cell wall enzymes of R. solani decreased and those of S. rolfsii increased with increased salt concentration when cell wall material was used as a sole carbon source. The metabolic products produced under salinity stress by R. solani and R. solani in the cell wall amended culture media shifted the initial pH towards neutrality or slight alkalinity for R. solani and to high acidity for S. rolfsii.When model substrates were used, xyland and galactan were the most responsive substrates for degradation by the cell wall enzymes of the two fungi studied. The rate of degradation was higher for S. rolfsii than for R. solani. The excessive acidity in salt stressed S. rolfsii culture media suggested reduced activities of the enzymes involved in cell wall degradation in vivo. This may explain the decreased virulence potentialities.     

Direct effect of biocontrol agents on wilt and root-rot diseases of sesame

In Egypt, sesame cultivation is subject to attack by wilt and root-rot diseases caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. sesami (Zap) Cast. and Macrophomina phaseolina (Maubl) Ashby causing losses in quality and quantity of sesame seed yield. Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma viride isolates which were isolated from sesame rhizosphere were the most effective to antagonise fungal pathogens, causing high reduction of hyphal fungal growth. Trichoderma viride was found to be mycoparasitic on Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. sesami and M. phaseolina causing morphological atternation of fungal cells and sclerotial formation. In general, Bacillus subtilis, T. viride, avirulent Fusarium oxysporum isolate and Glomus spp. (Amycorrhizae) significantly reduced wilt and root-rot incidence of sesame plants at artificially infested potted soil by each one or two pathogens. Data obtained indicate that Glomus spp significantly reduced wilt and disease severity development on sesame plants followed by T. viride. Meanwhile, avirulent Fusarium oxysporum isolate followed by Glomus spp. were effective against root-rot disease incidence caused by M. phaseolina. Glomus spp. followed by B. subtilis significantly reduced wilt and root-rot disease of sesame plants. All biotic agents significantly reduced F. oxysporum f.sp. sesami and M. phaseolina counts in sesame rhizosphere at the lowest level. Glomus spp. and the avirulent isolate of F. oxysporum eliminated M. phaseolina in sesame rhizosphere. Meanwhile T. viride was the best agent at reducing F. oxysporum at a lower level than other treatments. Application of VA mycorrhizae (Glomus spp.) in fields naturally infested by pathogens significantly reduced wilt and root-rot incidence and it significantly colonised sesame root systems and rhizospheres compared to untreated sesame transplantings.     

Phytophthora root-rot of container-grown citrus as affected by foliar sprays and soil drenches of phosphorous and acetyl salicylic acids

Mycelial growth ofPhytophthora nicotianae var.parasitica in vitro was inhibited by phosphorous and acetyl salicylic acids at 10 ppm; mycelial growth ofP. citrophthora was inhibited by phosphorous acid at 10 ppm and acetyl salicylic acid at 100 ppm. Foliar sprays and soil drenches with these chemicals were compared with soil applications of metalaxyl as treatments for Phytophthora root-rot of container-grown citrus (var. Cleopatra mandarin) caused by the aforementioned spp. Foliar sprays with 0.1% phosphorous acid were as effective as the metalaxyl treatment in promoting root growth and phosphorous acid offers considerable potential as an alternative treatment for Phytophthora root-rot of citrus.     

白及根腐病植株根际土壤微生物群落组成特征分析

分析白及根腐病植株根际土壤微生物群落组成特征,为理解白及根腐病发病机理并针对性开展防治工作提供科学依据。利用Illumina HiSeq高通量测序技术,比较分析白及根腐病与健康植株根际土壤微生物群落结构特征,并对土壤理化性质与酶活性进行定量分析。白及根际土壤中优势真菌为子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和Mortierellomycota,优势细菌为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)。与健康植株相比,发病白及根际土壤Ascomycota相对丰度显著升高,而Mortierellomycota相对丰度显著降低;镰刀菌属(Fusarium)和白粉菌属(Erysiphe)等致病菌群相对丰度显著升高(P<0.05)。多元统计分析表明,健康与发病白及根际土壤细菌与真菌群落存在明显分化。此外,健康植株根际土壤脲酶、蛋白酶与蔗糖酶活性和有效钾含量较高,pH、有机质、铵态氮与硝态氮含量较低。白及根腐病的发生可能与土壤致病菌相对丰度升高、微生物群落结构变化、酶活性降低、养分失衡等因素有关。     

Efficacy of formulation and storage on rice straw waste on the activation of bioagents against root-rot diseases of bean plants

Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride, which were grown on modified media of rice straw waste, were used as suitable natural media for determining the population of the bioagents and stimulating the production of antimicrobial substances, i.e. toxins, enzymes at different periods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks). Also, the evaluation of synergistic effect between biocontrol fungi and bacteria may play a key role in the natural process of biocontrol. Synergism can occur when different agents are applied together and cell wall degrading enzymes produced by fungi can increase the efficacy of bacteria. The evaluation of the bioagents formulated on rice straw waste has influenced the percentage of infection of root rot on bean plants under green house and field conditions. The formulation of the Trichoderma spp. to reduce the incidence of the diseases caused by soil-borne fungi in the field has great importance in the biocontrol of the diseases. This work was aimed to determine and improve the efficacy of application and formulation of Trichoderma spp. on the rice straw waste against root-rot disease of bean under green house and field conditions.     

Biocontrol of root-rot disease of Coleus forskohlii and Coleus amboinicus by using plant extracts as antifungal agents

Different plant extracts were screened for their potential antifungal activity against Fusarium chlamydosporum causing root rot of Coleus amboinicus and Coleus forskohlii; the aqueous and 50% ethanol extract of Annona squamosa, Azadircta indica, Eucalyptus Spp., Ocimum sanctum, Lawsonia inermis, Allium schoenoprasum, Cinnamomum verum Zingiber officinale, Piper nigrum, Calendula officinalis species were found to be effective. Both aqueous and 50% ethanol extract of the aforementioned plants showed a significant inhibition.     

Streptomyces alni as a biocontrol agent to root-rot of grapevine and increasing their efficiency by biofertilisers inocula

Root-rotted samples of grapevine cv. superior were collected from Nobaria province, Beheira Governorate, Egypt. Fusarium oxysporum Schlech. was the most fungal causing root-rot syndrome of grapevine and directly affected the yield productivity. Seven isolates of Streptomyces were isolated from grapevine rhizospheric soil and screened for antagonistic activities against F. oxysporum on dual culture plate. All isolates showed antifungal activity, but isolate No. 1 exhibited the highest activity. It was identified as Streptomyces alni according to morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical studies. The properties of the antagonism were revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of F. oxysporum and S. alni on PDA medium. The forms of antagonism found in this study according to the interaction between the S. alni and the pathogen indicated a hyperparasite, including inhibition of fungal growth and colonisation of S. alni over F. oxysporum hyphae. Also, malformation and lysis of F. oxysporum hyphae and conidiophores were observed. Conidia and normal branches of fungal hyphae were absent. Greenhouse and field studies were performed to evaluate the ability of S. alni and some commercial biofertilisers incorporated into the soil for root-rot control. Pot trails indicated that antagonistic S. alni isolate and biofertilisers i.e. blue green algae, phosphoren and rhizobacterin reduced the root-rot incidence of grapevine plants Cv. superior. Soil treatment before sowing with 50 ml of S. alni suspension (1 × 10⁸ spore/ml) + 50 g of rhizobacterin for each pot was the best and significant treatment reduced root-rot of grapevine plants. Also, the total count of F. oxysporum in rhizosphere soil of grapevine treated plants was reduced compared with control. Under field conditions, drenching soil of diseased grape trees with a spore suspension of S. alni (1 × 10⁸ spore/ml) 200 ml/tree + 250 g/tree of rhizobacterien caused a significant reduction in root rot of treated grapevine trees as well as high fruit yield/tree when compared with other treatments. The obtained results suggest that S. alni could be used successfully in combination with biofertilisers, as environmentally safe, for controlling root-rot of grapevine and other soil-borne plant pathogens especially with organic farming systems.     

Biological control of root-rot disease complex of chickpea by AM fungi

Abstract

Six species AM fungi, namely Glomus fasciculatum, G. constrictum, G. intraradices sp., Gigaspora margarita, Acaulospora sp. and Sclerocystis sp., were used for the biological control of root-rot disease complex of chickpea caused by Meloidogyne incognita and Macrophomina phaseolina. Application of these AM fungi increase plant growth, pod number, chlorophyll, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents in diseased plants and also reduced nematode multiplication and root-rot index. G. fasciculatum caused greater increase in plant growth, pod number, chlorophyll, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents of pathogen inoculated plants followed by G. intaradices, G. constrictum, Sclerocystis, G. margarita and Acaulospora sp. Percent root colonization caused by G. fasciculatum was high followed by G. intaradices, G. constrictum, Sclerocystis sp., G. margarita and Acaulospora sp. Glomus fasciculatum also caused higher reduction in root-rot index, galling and nematodes multiplication while Acaulospora sp. produced the least.     

Fungal communities and health status of roots of winter wheat cultivated after oats and oats mixed with other crops

Health status of winter wheat roots and thecomposition of wheat root fungi were studiedover 1996-1999 following the cultivation ofoats in a pure stand and mixed with otherplants as forecrops. The infection of wheatroots by >Gaeumannomyces graminis wasobserved to be largely dependent on the kind offorecrop; the best being oats in a pure stand,and then oats with pea or lupin mixtures. Inthe emergence and shooting phases, saprophyticfungi were dominant, while in the stage of harddough stage mainly pathogenic fungi, especially>G. graminis were common. The pathogenicfungi were mostly represented by >G.graminis and >Fusarium spp., while >Rhizoctonia spp. were much less frequent.The composition of the fungal communitydepended considerably on the forecrop anddevelopment phase of the plant. The kind offorecrop significantly affected the frequencyof infection by >G. graminis. The highestnumber of isolates was obtained from wheat rootsof crops grown after a mixture of oats andbarley.     

三七根腐病株根际土壤真菌群落组成与碳源利用特征研究

根腐病是药用植物三七Panax notoginseng的多发性病害,而土壤真菌群落组成与根腐病的发生存在一定的联系。利用末端限制性酶切片段长度多态性分析和Biolog技术研究了云南文山三七种植园健康和发病三七植株根际土壤真菌群落结构和碳源利用特征,结果表明健康和发病植株的根际土壤真菌多样性和代谢活性差异不显著,但是真菌群落组成存在差异。健康和发病植株根际土壤都以小茎点霉Phoma exigua及镰孢菌属Fusarium真菌为主要种群,而健康植株根际土壤中火丝菌属Pyronema和被孢霉属Mortierella等真菌类群的相对丰度显著高于发病植株根际土壤,尖孢镰孢菌F.ox‐ysporum和刺座霉属的Volutella colletotrichoides的相对丰度则显著低于发病植株。