Abstract
The severity of F. oxysporum f.sp. conglutinans on rocket plants grown under simulated climate change conditions has been studied. The rocket plants were cultivated on an infested substrate (4 log CFU g-1) and a non-infested substrate over three cycles. Pots were placed in six phytotrons in order to simulate different environmental conditions: 1) 400–450 ppm CO2, 18–22°C; 2) 800–850 ppm CO2, 18–22°C; 3) 400–450 ppm CO2, 22–26°C, 4) 800–850 ppm CO2, 22–26°C, 5) 400–450 ppm CO2, 26–30°C; 6) 800–850 ppm CO2, 26–30°C. Substrates from the infested and control samples were collected from each phytotron at 0, 60 and 120 days after transplanting. The disease index, microbial abundance, leaf physiological performances, root exudates and variability in the fungal profiles were monitored. The disease index was found to be significantly influenced by higher levels of temperature and CO2. Plate counts showed that fungal and bacterial development was not affected by the different CO2 and temperature levels, but a significant decreasing trend was observed from 0 up to 120 days. Conversely, the F. oxysporum f.sp. conglutinans plate counts did not show any significantly decrease from 0 up to 120 days. The fungal profiles, evaluated by means of polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), showed a relationship to temperature and CO2 on fungal diversity profiles. Different exudation patterns were observed when the controls and infested plants were compared, and it was found that both CO2 and temperature can influence the release of compounds from the roots of rocket plants. In short, the results show that global climate changes could influence disease incidence, probably through plant-mediated effects, caused by soilborne pathogens.
Highlights
Nowadays, how climate changes will influence plant-pathogen interactions and their impact on production is largely debated and represents a challenge for future programmes focused on disease management under global change conditions [1]
The aim of this work was to study the effect of F. oxysporum f.sp. conglutinans, artificially infested in a growing substrate, on rocket plants grown under simulated climate change conditions with rising CO2 concentrations and temperatures in phytotron chambers
The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of simulated climate changes, by increasing CO2 concentrations and temperature levels, on the severity of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. conglutinans on rocket plants
Summary
How climate changes will influence plant-pathogen interactions and their impact on production is largely debated and represents a challenge for future programmes focused on disease management under global change conditions [1]. An increasing numbers of multidisciplinary approaches have reported the effects of rising temperature and CO2 levels on crop productions and physiological changes [2]. Several pathogens produce toxins and other compounds that are dangerous to human and animal health which could affect market and world trade. On these grounds, a multidisciplinary approach is needed to implement predictive models and include higher levels of ecological interactions [5]. The mutation and selection of plant pathogens and the consequent development of new strains have been predicted [3,19]
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