Treating Radiation-induced Aceh Rice Germplasm with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi has been Shown to Effectively Address Bacterial Leaf Blight

Abstract

Background: Bacterial leaf blight can damage upland rice and reduce yield by 30-40%. Chemical pesticides harm ecosystems and can increase pathogen resistance. The objective of this research was to explore the potential of AMF, a biological agent, to enhance the resistance of local Acehnese-radiated mutant rice against bacterial leaf blight. Methods: Two-factor factorial design with three levels of AMF dosage (0 g, 10 g and 20 g per plant) and three upland rice lines (UA-01, UA-09 and UA-10). There were 9 treatment combinations replicated 3 times, resulting in 81 experimental units. Result: The intensity of the disease decreased significantly as the dosage of AMF increased and the maximum number of tillers increased substantially up to 20 g plant-1 AMF application. UA-10 strains exhibited the highest number of tillers per clump, while UA-09 strains had the lowest. The interaction between local Aceh rice varieties and AMF did not impact bacterial leaf blight intensity, maximum number of tillers and percentage of filled grain, except for AMF colonization on roots. The significance of AMF colonization varied among lines, with the highest AMF colonization observed in the UA-10 strain (20.64%) at an AMF dose of 20 g plant-1. AMF inoculation appeared to affect the percentage of filled grain positively.