Effect of tomato seed coating with spores of the endophytic fungus Acrophialophora jodhpurensis on plant growth and control of crown and root rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani

Document Type : Complete paper

Authors

1 ِDept. Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Dept. Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad Iran

3 Dept. Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Seed coating using antagonistic fungi protects seeds and plants against pathogens. In this research, the effect of tomato seed coating was studied using the endophytic fungus Acrophialophora jodhpurensis against Rhizoctonia solani in vivo. Seed coating was done using the spores of A. jodhpurensis supplemented with 1% edible sucrose, 0.5 % carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), or 0.5 % molasses as stickers. The greenhouse studies showed that the plant roots were colonized by this endophytic fungus very well at 30 days post-cultivation. The colonization of the roots in sucrose and carboxymethyl cellulose treatments was 80.55%, and in molasses treatment was 69.44%. This beneficial fungus significantly reduced the disease index of R. solani on detached leaf discs and tomato seedlings compared to the control. Also, the formation of pathogen infection structures, such as lobate appressoria and infection cushions, reduced on the treated plants compared to the control. Plant growth parameters such as dry and wet weight, shoot and root length significantly increased when the tomato seeds were coated with A. jodhpurensis compared to the non-treated control. Among the different coating materials used as sticker, sucrose was found to be the most effective for reducing the disease severity of R. solani and increasing plant growth parameters, which in sucrose, A. jodhpurensis and R. solani treatment the disease index significantly reduced compared to the plants only inoculated with R. solani. Therefore, seed coating using the endophytic fungus A. jodhpurensis supplemented with stickers, particularly edible sucrose, can be applied to protect tomato plants against this destructive pathogen.
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Keywords

Main Subjects

Extended Abstract

Introduction

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most popular vegetables worldwide. Various fungal pathogens, including Rhizoctonia solani, cause destructive diseases in tomato with high levels of yield loss. Generally, this pathogen is controlled using chemical fungicides. The application of chemical fungicides may cause many problems, including environmental pollution, toxicity on non-target organisms, and development of resistance in the pathogen populations. Therefore, biological control can be considered as an effective and safe method to control this destructive phytopathogen. Also, application of biocontrol agents using seed coating can increase germination rates, and protect the seedlings and seeds against phytopathogens.

 

Materials and Methods

In this research, the effect of tomato seed coating was investigated using the endophytic fungus Acrophialophora jodhpurensis against Rhizoctonia solani AG4-HG II in vivo. Tomato seed coating was studied using ascospores of A. jodhpurensis supplemented with 1% edible sucrose, 0.5 % carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), or 0.5 % molasses as sticker. After seed treatment, the tomato seeds were placed in pots containing sterilized soil, perlite, and sand (2:1:1) under greenhouse conditions (30 ± 4 ◦C with 16/8 h light/dark photoperiod). After 4 weeks, detection of A. jodhpurensis in tomato roots was done and the root colonization percentage was estimated. Then, inoculation of tomato seedlings was done with R. solani AG4-HG II using the toothpicks which were colonized by the pathogen’s hyphae. Plant growth parameters and the disease progress were evaluated at 7 days after inoculating the pathogen. Also, production of infection structures of the pathogen were determined on tomato leaf discs.

 

Results and Discussion

The in vivo studies showed that the plant roots were colonized by this endophytic fungus very well at 30 days post-inoculation. The colonization of tomato roots in sucrose and carboxymethyl cellulose treatments was 80.55%, but in molasses treatment was 69.44%. This beneficial fungus significantly reduced the disease index and infection process of R. solani on tomato plants. Production of the lobate appressoria and infection cushions was more and faster on the leaf discs without the endophyte treatment compared to the leaves of tomato plants with A. jodhpurensis treatment. The disease index of R. solani in sucrose and A. jodhpurensis treatment was reduced by 40% compared to R. solani treatment. Also, plant growth parameters, such as wet and dry weight, shoot, and root length were significantly increased when the tomato seeds were treated using spore suspension of A. jodhpurensis and stickers compared to the non-inoculated control. Among the various coating materials investigated as stickers, sucrose was the most effective for reducing the disease index of R. solani and increasing plant growth parameters.

In this research, coating of tomato seeds using ascospore of A. jodhpurensis against R. solani was studied for the first time. The results showed that the endophytic fungus can colonize tomato roots when applied as seed treatment. Therefore, seed coating using the endophytic fungus A. jodhpurensis supplemented with stickers, particularly edible sucrose, can be used to protect plants against this destructive phytopathogen.

 

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that tomato seed coating with A. jodhpurensis spores reduces the disease index of R. solani on tomato seedlings in vivo. Also, the growth parameters of tomato plants increased using A. jodhpurensis spores. Therefore, tomato seed coating using A. jodhpurensis spores and stickers, such as sucrose, could be used for protection against this necrotrophic fungal pathogens and plant growth promotion.

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BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF PESTS AND PLANT DISEASES
Volume 11, Issue 2
January 2024
Pages 95-113

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