Reduction of symptoms of take-all of wheat and rye-grass seedlings by the soil-borne fungus Sordaria fimicola

Abstract

Sordaria fimicola (Ascomycotina) was isolated from wheat and rye-grass roots; its occurrence being relatively more frequent at the seedling stage of plant growth. In sterilized and non-sterilized soil, S. fimicola promoted plant growth and also reduced the mortality of both hosts after inoculation with the take-all fungus ( Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. ). Triacontanol (1) and indole-3-carboxaldehyde (2) were isolated from potato dextrose broth cultures of S. fimicola. These findings are taken to suggest that the fungus can produce indole acetic acid (IAA) and that IAA and triacontanol contribute to growth promotion and the reduction of disease observed.