High concentration of ferulic acid in rhizosphere soil accounts for the occurrence of Fusarium wilt during the seedling stages of strawberry plants

Abstract

Here, we elucidated the relationship between phenolic acids in strawberry rhizosphere soil and the occurrence of Fusarium wilt. Ten phenolic acids were identified, and the concentration of ferulic acid (FA) in the rhizosphere was higher than other phenolic acids at the seedling stage of strawberry plants. Treatment with relatively high FA concentrations enhanced the conidial germination and colony growth of Fusarium oxysporum in vitro. Exogenous supplementation with FA increased the disease index of Fusarium wilt. Our results suggest the key role of high concentrations of FA in rhizosphere soil in the occurrence of strawberry Fusarium wilt during the seedling stage.