Role of root colonization ability of plant growth promoting fungi in the suppression of take-all and common root rot of wheat

Abstract

Plant growth promoting fungal (PGPF) isolates — GS6-1, GS7-4 ( Phoma sp.) and GU23-3 (non-sporulating fungus), from zoysiagrass rhizosphere, suppressed take-all and common root rot of spring wheat caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt) and Cochliobolus sativus (Cs), respectively, in the greenhouse. Barley kernels colonized with pathogens (0.1%, 0.5% or 1.0% w w ) and PGPF isolates (1.0%, 1.5% or 2.0% w w ) were added to soil individually and in different combinations of pathogen and PGPF. With an increase in the rate of PGPF amendment, all three PGPF isolates suppressed take-all and common root rot ( P = 0.05), irrespective of the pathogen inoculum level. Among the PGPF isolates, GS6-1 and GS7-4 were more effective than GU23-3. When added to soil individually, PGPF isolates were recovered from 75 to 95% of root segments, and Ggt and Cs from 88–95% of root segments. Both Ggt and Cs were isolated less frequently from roots when the PGPF concentration was high (2.0%); however, the PGPF isolates were isolated from roots in high frequencies even when the pathogen inoculum level was high. Isolate GS6-1 promoted plant growth even when the pathogen inoculum rate was high, as did GS7-4, but to a lesser amount. These fungal isolates suppressed take-all and common root rot, and two of them also increased plant growth. The suppression of take-all and common root rot appeared to be due to the competitive root colonization by PGPF isolates, thus blocking sites available for infection by pathogens.