A Formulation of Trichoderma and Gliocladium to Reduce Damping-off Caused by Rhizoctonia solani and Saprophytic Growth of the Pathogen in Soilless Mix

Seedborne mycoflora of faba bean (Vicia fabae L.) and evaluation of plant extract and Trichoderma species against mycelium growth of selected fungi

Fungal diseases are among the biotic factors limiting the production of faba bean in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify seedborne mycoflora associated with faba bean seed samples, determine their effects on seed germination and disease transmission, and evaluate the antimicrobial activities of seven plant extracts and four Trichoderma spp. against the pathogen isolated from the seed. Fifty seed samples were collected from different farmers' saved seeds of five major faba bean-producing varieties of the Ambo district and were tested by agar plate methods as recommended by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). A total of 7 fungal species belonging to 6 genera, viz. Fusarium oxysporum (Schlechlendahl), Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc, Aspergillus spp. Penicillium spp. Botrytis spp. Rhizoctonia solani (Kühn) and Alternaria spp. were isolated and identified. Among these, Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp, and Penicillium spp. were the most predominant fungi in all seed samples. Seed-to-seedling transmission test results confirmed that F. oxysporum, F. solani and R. solani were major causal pathogens that caused root rot and damping-off disease in faba beans and were transmitted from seeds to seedlings. A higher germination rate was observed in Golja-GF₂ (97%), and a lower germination rate was observed in Kure Gatira-KF₈ (81%). A study on in vitro evaluation of plant extract and Trichoderma spp. against F. oxysporum, F. solani and R. solani revealed that plant extracts at 5%, 10% and 20% concentrations significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of all tested fungi. Inhibitory effects on the three tested fungi (R. solani, F. solani and F. oxysporum) were recorded on T. longibrachiatum (87.91%), T. atroviride (86.87%), Trichoderma virens (86.16%) and T. harzianum (85.45%). The inhibitory effect of the aqueous plant extracts on mycelial growth increased with an increase in concentration, and the hot water extracts showed higher effects compared to the cold water extract in all tested fungi. This study showed that the highest inhibitory effect of Allium sativum L. extracted at a 20% concentration against mycelial growth inhibition of the three test fungi (F. oxysporum, R. solani and F. solani) was 84.60%, 83.61% and 83.47%, respectively. However, Nicandra physalodes (L.) Gaertn.) extracts at the same concentration showed the lowest inhibitory effects on the three tested fungi (74.94%, 73.94% and 73.24%).

Efficacy of Streptomyces murinus JKTJ-3 in Suppression of Pythium Damping-Off of Watermelon

Damping-off caused by Pythium aphanidermatum (Pa) is one of the most destructive diseases for watermelon seedlings. Application of biological control agents against Pa has attracted the attention of many researchers for a long time. In this study, the actinomycetous isolate JKTJ-3 with strong and broad-spectrum antifungal activity was screened from 23 bacterial isolates. Based on the morphological, cultural, physiological, and biochemical characteristics as well as the feature of 16S rDNA sequence, isolate JKTJ-3 was identified as Streptomyces murinus. We investigated the biocontrol efficacy of isolate JKTJ-3 and its metabolites. The results revealed that seed and substrate treatments with JKTJ-3 cultures showed a significant inhibitory effect on watermelon damping-off disease. Seed treatment with the JKTJ-3 cultural filtrates (CF) displayed higher control efficacy compared to the fermentation cultures (FC). Treatment of the seeding substrate with the wheat grain cultures (WGC) of JKTJ-3 exhibited better control efficacy than that of the seeding substrate with the JKTJ-3 CF. Moreover, the JKTJ-3 WGC showed the preventive effect on suppression of the disease, and the efficacy increased with increase in the inoculation interval between the WGC and Pa. Production of the antifungal metabolite actinomycin D by isolate JKTJ-3 and cell-wall-degrading enzymes such as β-1,3-glucanase and chitosanase were probably the mechanisms for effective control of watermelon damping-off. It was shown for the first time that S. murinus can produce anti-oomycete substances including chitinase and actinomycin D. This is the first report about S. murinus used as biocontrol agent against watermelon damping-off caused by Pa.

Trichoderma Species: Our Best Fungal Allies in the Biocontrol of Plant Diseases-A Review

Biocontrol agents (BCA) have been an important tool in agriculture to prevent crop losses due to plant pathogens infections and to increase plant food production globally, diminishing the necessity for chemical pesticides and fertilizers and offering a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option. Fungi from the genus Trichoderma are among the most used and studied microorganisms as BCA due to the variety of biocontrol traits, such as parasitism, antibiosis, secondary metabolites (SM) production, and plant defense system induction. Several Trichoderma species are well-known mycoparasites. However, some of those species can antagonize other organisms such as nematodes and plant pests, making this fungus a very versatile BCA. Trichoderma has been used in agriculture as part of innovative bioformulations, either just Trichoderma species or in combination with other plant-beneficial microbes, such as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Here, we review the most recent literature regarding the biocontrol studies about six of the most used Trichoderma species, T. atroviride, T. harzianum, T. asperellum, T. virens, T. longibrachiatum, and T. viride, highlighting their biocontrol traits and the use of these fungal genera in Trichoderma-based formulations to control or prevent plant diseases, and their importance as a substitute for chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Effect of substrates on growth and shelf life of Trichoderma harzianum and its use in biocontrol of diseases

A study on the effect of different agrowastes on the population density and shelf life of Trichoderma harzianum indicated that all the substrates showed effective propagation of T. harzianum; however, the population count after 30 days was maximum in used tea leaves (8 x 10(8) cfu/g) and shelf life was found to be maximum (2.9 x 10(5) cfu/g after 210 days) in wheat bran-sawdust. The application of these formulations on chickpea and groundnut plants significantly reduced the percent mortality due to chickpea wilt complex and groundnut collar rot disease, respectively.

Strategy to select and assess antagonistic bacteria for biological control of Rhizoctonia solani Kühn

A screening strategy was developed to assess the potential of plant-associated bacteria to control diseases caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn. About 434 already characterized antagonistic bacterial strains isolated from diverse plant species and microenvironments were evaluated for biocontrol and plant growth promotion by a hierarchical combination of assays. Analyzing in vitro antagonism towards different Rhizoctonia isolates resulted in a selection of 20 potential biocontrol agents. The strains were characterized by their antagonistic mechanisms in vitro as well as their production of the plant growth hormone indole-3-acetic acid. The plant growth promoting effect by antagonistic bacteria was determined using a microtiter plate assay on the basis of lettuce seedlings. Lettuce and sugar beet as host plant were included in the biocontrol experiments in which the antagonistic effect of 17 bacterial isolates could be confirmed in vivo. Sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene and (or) fatty acid methyl ester gas chromatography was used to identify the antagonistic isolates. Molecular fingerprints of isolates obtained by BOX-polymerase chain reaction were compared to avoid further investigation with genetically very similar strains and to obtain unique molecular fingerprints for quality control and patent licensing. According to our strategy, an assessment scheme was developed and four interesting biological control agents, Pseudomonas reactans B3, Pseudomonas fluorescens B1, Serratia plymuthica B4, and Serratia odorifera B6, were found. While S. plymuthica B4 was the best candidate to biologically control Rhizoctonia in lettuce, P. reactans B3 was the best candidate to suppress the pathogen in sugar beet.

Encapsulamento de Trichoderma inhamatum para o controle biológico de Rhizoctonia solani na propagação clonal de Eucalyptus

Testou-se um novo sistema para o encapsulamento de Trichoderma inhamatum em grânulos de alginato de sódio, visando o controle biológico de Rhizoctonia solani, agente etiológico da mela de estacas/miniestacas de Eucalyptus spp. para enraizamento. No novo sistema idealizado, foi utilizado um aparato simples capaz de substituir eficientemente o equipamento (Bomba Peristáltica) anteriormente utilizado, sendo possível aumentar a produção de 594 grânulos/min para aproximadamente 6.734 grânulos/min. Com este novo sistema, um isolado de T. inhamatum (UFV – 03) foi encapsulado em grânulos contendo as fontes alimentares: farelo de trigo, palha de arroz, farelo de aveia, folhas de eucalipto ou farelo de milho na concentração de 50 g/l. Na segunda etapa, a melhor fonte alimentar foi testada nas concentrações de 0 a 60 g/l. Os grânulos foram veiculados em substrato de enraizamento de eucalipto na concentração de 2% (p/p) inoculado com micélio triturado de R. solani (2 mg/g de substrato) e a atividade saprofítica do patógeno foi quantificada por meio do método de iscas. Posteriormente, os grânulos produzidos com a fonte alimentar e concentração que promoveram maior inibição do desenvolvimento de R. solani foram utilizados para determinar o tempo mínimo de pré-incubação e competição para supressão do patógeno, com a mesma metodologia. Observou-se aumento da supressão da atividade saprofítica de R. solani ao acréscimo de uma fonte alimentar. Daquelas testadas, farelo de trigo foi a melhor. Além disso, houve interação significativa e positiva ao aumento de sua concentração na formulação.

Effect of potting mix microbial carrying capacity on biological control of rhizoctonia damping-off of radish and rhizoctonia crown and root rot of poinsettia

ABSTRACT Potting mixes prepared with dark, highly decomposed Sphagnum peat, with light, less decomposed Sphagnum peat, or with composted pine bark, all three of which were colonized by indigenous microorganisms, failed to consistently suppress Rhizoctonia damping-off of radish or Rhizoctonia crown and root rot of poinsettia. Inoculation of these mixes with Chryseobacterium gleum (C(299)R(2)) and Trichoderma hamatum 382 (T(382)) significantly reduced the severity of both diseases in the composted pine bark mix in which both biocontrol agents maintained high populations over 90 days. These microorganisms were less effective against damping-off in the light and dark peat mixes, respectively, in which populations of C(299)R(2) declined. In contrast, crown and root rot, a disease that is severe late in the crop, was suppressed in all three types of mixes. High populations of T(382) in all three mixes late during the cropping cycle may have contributed to control of this disease.

Microbial interactions and biocontrol in the rhizosphere

The loss of organic material from the roots provides the energy for the development of active microbial populations in the rhizosphere around the root. Generally, saproptrophs or biotrophs such as mycorrhizal fungi grow in the rhizosphere in response to this carbon loss, but plant pathogens may also develop and infect a susceptible host, resulting in disease. This review examines the microbial interactions that can take place in the rhizosphere and that are involved in biological disease control. The interactions of bacteria used as biocontrol agents of bacterial and fungal plant pathogens, and fungi used as biocontrol agents of protozoan, bacterial and fungal plant pathogens are considered. Whenever possible, modes of action involved in each type of interaction are assessed with particular emphasis on antibiosis, competition, parasitism, and induced resistance. The significance of plant growth promotion and rhizosphere competence in biocontrol is also considered. Multiple microbial interactions involving bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere are shown to provide enhanced biocontrol in many cases in comparison with biocontrol agents used singly. The extreme complexity of interactions that can occur in the rhizosphere is highlighted and some potential areas for future research in this area are discussed briefly.

BIOCONTROL WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES: A Substrate-Dependent Phenomenon

Broad spectrum biological control of diseases caused by soilborne plant pathogens such as Pythium, Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia solani requires the introduction into or presence of edaphic sources of organic nutrients in soil for sustenance of biocontrol agents. The decomposition level of organic matter critically affects the composition of bacterial taxa as well as the populations and activities of biocontrol agents. Competition, antibiosis, parasitism, and systemic induced resistance are all affected. Highly stabilized sources of Sphagnum peat consistently fail to support sustained biological control, even when inoculated with biocontrol agents. Composts, on the other hand, can serve as an ideal food base for biocontrol agents and offer an opportunity to introduce and establish specific biocontrol agents into soils, which in turn leads to sustained biological control based on the activities of microbial communities.