Abstract
The ability of a rhizosphere-derived microbial product (composed of a consortium of a strain of Bacillus subtilis and a strain of Trichoderma harzianum) to suppress common scab disease in potato caused by Streptomyces spp. was examined over a two-year period. Relative to the condition in which 0 kg·ha−1 of the designated microbial product was applied (control), the disease index decreased by 30.6%–46.1%, and yield increased by 23.0%–32.2% in treatments in which 225 or 300 kg·ha−1 of the microbial product was administered, respectively. The bacterial communities present in the rhizosphere were assessed at an early stage of tuber formation, a time at which tubers are susceptible to common scab. Potato plants in which soils were treated with 225 or 300 kg·ha−1 of the microbial product harbored rhizospheric microbiota with lower α-diversity and an increased relative abundance of taxa representing the beneficial bacteria. In summary, a select microbial product composed of a consortium of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum effectively suppressed common scab disease and increased tuber yield by establishing a high relative abundance of beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere.
Highlights
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) ranks as the fourth main food crop produced after rice, wheat, and maize [1]
Potato common scab (PCS) disease is a recurrent soil-borne disease, mainly caused by Streptomyces spp. [2], that is responsible for significant economic losses [3]
That the application of the microbial product at 225 kg·ha−1 and 300 kg·ha−1 greatly suppressed the PCS disease index and increased potato tuber yield, relative to untreated plots
Summary
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) ranks as the fourth main food crop produced after rice, wheat, and maize [1]. Some studies have indicated that the application of bioagents, belonging to Bacillus spp. or Trichoderma spp., suppresses soilborne plant diseases and alters the composition of the rhizosphere microbial community in banana, cucumber, and potato [9,10,11]. It is still unknown, whether shifts in the composition of rhizospheric microbial communities is a prerequisite for the successful biological control of PCS. The results of the study provide information on the potential mechanism of the ability of a commercial microbial consortium to improve the health and productivity of potato
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