Biological control of fusarium wilt of tomato using basidiomycota fungal endophytes

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 University of Kurdistan

2 Department of plant protection

3 University Of Kurdistan

Abstract

Fusarium wilt is one of the most important diseases of tomato seriously threatening the cultivation and development of this crop worldwide. In this study, the biocontrol potential of four basidiomycota fungal endophytes isolated from wheat and wild oat, namely Rhizoctonia endophytica M32, R. zeae M9, Fomes inzengae M40 and Coprinopsis urticicola M2, was evaluated against fusarium wilt of tomato under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In lab, identity and race of the pathogen was first determined using phylogenetic inference and specific primers. In addition, antagonistic potential of fungal endophytes in inhibiting the pathogen and possible plant resistance induction was assessed through dual culture, volatile metabolite production, pot cultivation, split-root and root-cutting tests. Molecular evidence determined the identity of the pathogen as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 3. Lab tests showed that in duel culture test all four fungal endophytes were able to reduction of colony diameter of pathogen significantly five and seven days after inoculation compared to control. In volatile metabolite test all isolates could reduce mycelial growth of the pathogen significantly compared to control except R. zeae M9 in third and fifth day. Under greenhouse condition, only C. urticicola M2 isolate could significantly reduce the severity of fusarium wilt of tomato and increase plant growth factors compared to the control and other fungal endopytes. Through split-root and root-cutting tests, the possible mechanism of disease severity reduction caused by C. urticicola M2 was identified as stimulation and induction of resistance in tomato plant.

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