Abstract
Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a multipurpose plant used in several fields. Several phytopathogens attack hemp crops. Fusarium oxysporum is a common fungal pathogen that causes wilt disease in nurseries and in field cultivation and causes high losses. In the present study, a pathogenic strain belonging to F. oxysporum f. sp. cannabis was isolated from a plant showing Fusarium wilt. After isolation, identification was conducted based on morphological and molecular characterizations and pathogenicity tests. Selected plant growth-promoting bacteria with interesting biocontrol properties—Azospirillum brasilense, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, Herbaspirillum seropedicae and Burkholderia ambifaria—were tested against this pathogen. In vitro antagonistic activity was determined by the dual culture method. Effective strains (in vitro inhibition > of 50%) G. diazotrophicus, H. seropedicae and B. ambifaria were combined in a consortium and screened for in planta antagonistic activity in pre-emergence (before germination) and post-emergence (after germination). The consortium counteracted Fusarium infection both in pre-emergence and post-emergence. Our preliminary results show that the selected consortium could be further investigated as an effective biocontrol agent for the management of this pathogen.
Highlights
Published: 11 November 2021Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a crop with a rich and ancient history and is grown all over the world
Hemp crops are threatened by attacks from viruses, bacteria and fungi that penetrate through the surfaces of leaves, stems and roots; spread within the tissues; and colonize the entire plant [5]
Our findings are consistent with previous studies on microbial consortia as biocontrol agents against plant fungal diseases [19]
Summary
Published: 11 November 2021Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a crop with a rich and ancient history and is grown all over the world. Hemp crops are threatened by attacks from viruses, bacteria and fungi that penetrate through the surfaces of leaves, stems and roots; spread within the tissues; and colonize the entire plant [5]. Some of these plant pathogens can cause significant damages to hemp plants by blocking plant development and causing metabolic disorders, leaves shriveling or roots destruction [6]. FOV forma specialis affects a wide range of hosts, while FOC is specific to hemp and can result in complete crop loss.
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