Abstract
This study explored the role of Aphanocladium album (strain MX95), Pleurotus ostreatus (strain ALPO) and Pleurotus eryngii (strain AL142PE) as potential biological limiters. MX95, ALPO and AL142PE were screened under laboratory studies against Phytophthora nicotianae (PN), Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL), Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL), Fusarium solani (FS), Sclerotinia minor (SM), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (SS), Athelia (Sclerotium) rolfsii (AR) and Verticillium dahliae (VD). The radial growth inhibition and the over-growth of potential antagonists on the target organisms were used to assess the interactions in the in vitro dual culture plate assay. The antagonistic ability of each challenge isolate was evaluated by calculating an index of the antagonism (AI) based on the interaction type in the dual cultures. MX95, reducing the growth of SS (20%) and FS (40%), displayed deadlock at mycelial contact against FOL and FORL, deadlock at distance versus VD and completely over-grew PN and SM. ALPO reduced (43 to 88%) the mycelial growth of tested pathogens except FORL and replaced PN and VD. AL142PE reducing (53 to 67%) SS, VD, FS and FOL mycelial growth and completely over-grew PN. AR showed combative ability against all the experienced biological limiters. Based on the results of the AI values, MX95 (AI = 16.5) was considered an active antagonist, while ALPO (AI = 11.5) and AL142PE (AI = 12.0) were moderately active antagonists. Strains MX95, ALPO and AL142PE were suitable as environment-friendly potential biocontrol agents to manage some of the main soil-borne agents of foot, root, soft rot and wilt diseases. These results are the first step in the assessment of the potential capacity of these organisms as biological limiters. Nevertheless, additional experiments should be performed for the translation to the field conditions in plant protection against soil-borne plant pathogens. In particular, the optimisation of dose and application time validation should be performed for a solid conclusion about the competitive ability of MX95, ALPO and AL142PE and the usefulness of potential biological limiters.
Highlights
Strains and MediaDiSSPA: Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo
Introduction published maps and institutional affilPlants are the primary source of nutrition for livestock and provide over 80% of the food consumed by humans [1]
The present study aimed to investigate the antagonistic activity of three new biological limiters against seven soil-borne phytopathogens agents of the most important foot, root and wilt diseases of several plant species
Summary
DiSSPA: Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo. Isolates of target organisms were stored at 5 ± 1 ◦ C on sterile soil according to Toussoun and Nelson [16]. PN and the potential BCAs were stored on Potato Dextrose. Agar (PDA) slant tubes in the culture collection of the Department of Soil, Plant and Food. Sciences—Plant Pathology Section at the University of Bari Aldo Moro. All the strains were revitalised and routinely grown on PDA at 25 ± 1 ◦ C in the dark
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