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The influence of mineral and carbon sources on biological control of charcoal rot fungus, Macrophomina phaseolina by fluorescent pseudomonads in tomato
Author(s) -
Shaukat S.S.,
Siddiqui I.A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2003.01325.x
Subject(s) - macrophomina phaseolina , charcoal , biology , botany , chemistry , organic chemistry
Aims: To determine the influence of various trace minerals and carbon source on the biocontrol performance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain IE‐6S + and P. fluorescens strain CHA0 against Macrophomina phaseolina . Methods and Results: In dual culture plate assay, P. aeruginosa IE‐6S + and P. fluorescens CHA0 inhibited radial growth of M. phaseolina producing zones of inhibition. Czapek's dox agar medium amended with both zinc and glucose remarkably improved antifungal activities of the bacterial inoculants. Under glasshouse conditions, soil amendment with zinc and/or glucose alone did not reduce M. phaseolina infection in tomato roots but did reduce significantly when used in combination with IE‐6S + or CHA0. Soil amendments with zinc and/or glucose increased fresh shoot weights but zinc amendment greatly reduced bacterial populations in the rhizosphere. Conclusions: Mineral and carbon amendments enhance the biocontrol performance of fluorescent pseudomonads against M. phaseolina . Significance and Impact of the Study: Identification of mineral and carbon amendments that favour biocontrol of certain bacterial strains may provide clues to soil factors or components of nutrient solutions in hydroponic culture that will improve the level and reliability of control.