Suppression of the clubroot pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae by plant growth promoting formulations in roots of two Brassica species

Abstract

In this study, the ability of two organic plant growth stimulants, mainly based on algal extracts, amino acids and phosphonate, to reduce clubroot formation in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and two economically important Brassica species, Brassia rapa (Chinese cabbage) and Brassica napus (oilseed rape) was investigated. A commercial liquid (Frutogard®) and a granulate (PlasmaSoil®) formulation were used to find optimum conditions for both control of the pathogen and plant growth. Both formulations were able to significantly reduce gall formation after Plasmodiophora brassicae infection on Chinese cabbage, but PlasmaSoil® gave better effects, possibly as a result of the continuous supply of the components to the soil. Individual components did not have the same effect. Clubroots on oilseed rape could also be reduced. In contrast, club formation was not reduced in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. This points to interesting differences in the induction of resistance in the different species. Cross‐sections of infected and treated roots stained for different macromolecules (callose, lignin, suberin) indicated differences in anatomy as a result of the two formulations. The results indicate an application for the granulate formulation PlasmaSoil® in clubroot control.