Biocontrol of charcoal rot disease on tomato and melon using endophytic fungi in vitro and in vivo

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agricultural Technology, University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agricultural Technology, University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Macrophomina phaseolina causal agent of charcoal rot, stem, and seedling rot, causes economic losses on over 500 plant species including tomato and melon around the world every year. One of the most important and effective alternative methods for chemicals and reducing their risks is biocontrol using different agents such as endophytic fungi. In the present study, the effect of some endophytic fungi on charcoal rot disease and the growth indices of tomato and melon plants were assessed. In the dual culture test, among the 12 endophyte species, five isolates including Chaetomium globosum 2S1, Ch. globosum 3L2, Fusarium fujikuroi 37F6, F. acuminatum GO2L1, and F. incarnatum 25S3 which had the highest inhibition of pathogen mycelia growth, were selected for further tests. In the volatile compounds test, all endophytic isolates showed more than 90% inhibition of pathogen mycelia growth. In biocontrol assay under greenhouse conditions, all endophytic isolates except F. fujikori 37F6, completely prevented disease on both tomato and melon plants. In the evaluation of the growth indices and by comparing the treated plants with the infected and healthy controls, no positive effect of the selected endophytic isolates was observed on the growth indices of both plants. However, they reduced the harmful effects of the pathogen and thus reduced the charcoal rot disease severity. Recovery of endophyte isolates from both inoculated melon and tomato plants showed that the surveyed isolates can become endophytes in plant tissue.

Keywords

Extended Abstract

Introduction

    Macrophomina phaseolina causal agent of charcoal rot, stem, and seedling rot, causes economic losses on over 500 plant species including tomatoes and melon around the world. Chemical control of this disease is difficult and dangerous for the environment. Biological control has been explored as a new and safe means of managing charcoal rot. One of the most important and effective alternative methods for chemicals and reducing their risks is biocontrol using different agents such as endophytic fungi. Endophytic fungi grow inside the host tissue without any damage or symptoms and are considered as biocontrol agents. They play an important role in balancing ecosystems, as well as benefiting the host through increasing plant growth and protecting the host plants from abiotic and biotic stresses using various strategies.

 

Materials and Methods

    In this research, the effect of several endophytic fungi on charcoal rot disease and the growth indices of tomato and melon plants were investigated. Dual culture and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) tests were conducted to select the best antagonists for further assays. Tomato and melon were used in the in vivo experiments to evaluate the antagonism of the endophytic fungi against charcoal rot disease as well as plant growth parameters. The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design for in vitro and in vivo tests.

 

Results and Discussion

    In the dual culture test of 12 endophytes, five isolates including Chaetomium globosum 2S1, Ch. globosum 3L2, Fusarium fujikuroi 37F6, Fusarium acuminatum GO2L1, and Fusarium incarnatum 25S3 which had the highest inhibitory rate on pathogen mycelia growth, were selected for further tests. In the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) test, all isolates showed more than a 90% inhibitory rate against pathogen growth. According to the results of in vitro, F. fujikori 37F6 had the lowest disease inhibition rate on both tomato and melon plants under greenhouse conditions. Based on the results obtained in the evaluation of the growth indices and by comparing the treated plants with the infected and healthy controls, it can be concluded that the selected endophytic isolates in this research did not affect the growth indices of both plants. However, they reduced the harmful effects of the pathogen and thus reduced the disease severity. Also, selected endophyte isolates were re-isolated from both melon and tomato plants after inoculation and showed that they can become endophyte in plant tissue and these fungi exhibit systemic growth within their hosts.

 

Conclusion

   In this study, the isolates that controlled the disease under greenhouse conditions could therefore be considered the best candidates for the development of endophytic-based bio-fungicide and could be integrated as a component in a sustainable integrated crop management strategy for charcoal rot disease. However, further studies are warranted to clearly understand the underlying mechanisms by which the presence of endophytic fungi affect M. phaseolina as well as validate the findings under field conditions on different cultivars of tomato and melon.

References

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Iranian Journal of Plant Protection Science
Volume 54, Issue 1
September 2023
Pages 1-17

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History

  • Receive Date: 25 February 2023
  • Revise Date: 04 April 2023
  • Accept Date: 24 April 2023

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