Abstract
Verticillium dahliae Kleb. is a vascular pathogen that alters water status and growth of pepper plants and causes drastic reductions in yield. Its control is difficult because it can survive in field soil for several years. The application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as bioprotector agents against V. dahliae is an alternative to the use of chemicals which, in addition, is more respectful with the environment. The establishment of the mutualistic association of plant roots and AMF involves a continuous cellular and molecular dialogue between both symbionts that includes the preactivation of plant defense responses that may enhance the resistance or tolerance of mycorrhizal plants to soil-borne pathogens. Some AMF can improve the resistance of Capsicum annuum L. against V. dahliae. This is especially relevant for pepper cultivars (i.e. cv. Piquillo) that exhibit high susceptibility to this pathogen. Compared with non-mycorrhizal plants, mycorrhizal pepper can exhibit more balanced antioxidant metabolism in leaves along the first month after pathogen inoculation, which may contribute to delay both the development of disease symptoms and the decrease of photosynthesis in Verticillium-inoculated plants with the subsequent benefit for yield. In stems, mycorrhizal pepper show earlier and higher deposition of lignin in xylem vessels than nonmycorrhizal plants, even in absence of the pathogen. Moreover, AMF can induce new isoforms of acidic chitinases and superoxide dismutase in roots. Mycorrhizal-specific induction of these enzymatic activities together with enhanced peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in roots may also be involved in the bioprotection of Verticillium-induced wilt in pepper by AMF
Highlights
Peppers belong to the family of Solanaceae and the genus Capsicum
The most important diseases caused by fungi and Oomycetes are Anthracnose, Cercospora, Leaf Spot, Charcoal Rot, Choanephora Blight, DampingOff and Root Rot, Fusarium Stem Rot, Fusarium Wilt, Gray Leaf Spot, Gray Mold, Phytophthora Blight, Powdery Mildew, Southern Blight, White Mold and Verticillium Wilt
Verticillium Wilt constitutes a relevant economic problem because it produces great yield losses in America (Evans and McKeen, 1975) and Mediterranean countries (Thanassoulopoulos and Kitsos, 1972; García-Mina et al, 1996; Pomar et al, 2001) and it can affect pepper cultivated in both field (GarcíaMina et al, 1996) and greenhouse (Gayoso et al, 2007)
Summary
Peppers belong to the family of Solanaceae and the genus Capsicum. this genus includes 25 species, most of the peppers cultivated in temperate and tropical areas belong to the species C. annuum, thought to originate in Mexico and Central America (Andrews, 1995). The cultivated peppers are herbaceous, frost-sensitive plants that can be grown as an annual or as perennial crop in field or greenhouses. This crop is widely consumed as a fresh vegetable or condiment and used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes (Bosland, 2003). Diseases can be caused by a wide range of biological agents, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasitic higher plants, insects, nematodes, birds and mammals (Bosland, 2003). Verticillium Wilt constitutes a relevant economic problem because it produces great yield losses in America (Evans and McKeen, 1975) and Mediterranean countries (Thanassoulopoulos and Kitsos, 1972; García-Mina et al, 1996; Pomar et al, 2001) and it can affect pepper cultivated in both field (GarcíaMina et al, 1996) and greenhouse (Gayoso et al, 2007). Verticillium Wilt of pepper can be caused by both Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke and Berthlod and V. dahliae Klebahn, being the latter the most frequently reported as the causal organism (Goldberg, 2003)
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