Biological control potential of ectomycorrhizal fungi against Fusarium circinatum on Pinus patula seedlings. Issue 8 (2nd August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chartier-FitzGerald, Veronique; Dames, Joanna Felicity; Hawley, Greer
• Is Part Of: Biocontrol science and technology. Volume 30:Issue 8(2020)
• Page Start: 818
• Page End: 829
• Publication Date: 2020-08-02
• Subjects: Ectomycorrhizal fungi -- Lactarius quieticolor -- Suillus granulatus -- Boletus edulis -- pitch canker; Pests -- Biological control -- Periodicals; Weeds -- Biological control -- Periodicals; Pesticides -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Plants, Protection of -- Periodicals; Plants -- Biological control -- Periodicals; Agricultural pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Pest Control, Biological -- Periodicals; 632.96
• DOI: 10.1080/09583157.2020.1771542
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-3157

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The South Africa forestry industry, covering ∼1.3 million hectares, is dependent on exotic pine and Eucalyptus species. Nursery seedlings are not inoculated with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi or other beneficial microbes. Fusarium circinatum is an economically important pathogen affecting seedling survival. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of ectomycorrhizal fungal inoculation on Pinus patula seedling growth and resistance to the fungal pathogen F. circinatum . Explants from ECM basidiocarps, collected from Pinus stands, were plated onto MMN medium to obtain isolates that were then verified via DNA extraction and PCR amplification and sequencing of the ITS rDNA region. These isolates were identified as Boletus edulis f. reticulatus, Lactarius quieticolor, Suillus granulatus and an unknown Suillus species. P. patula growth in the presence of the pathogen F. circinatum was significantly increased and promoted by the L. quieticolor and Suillus isolates. Preventative inoculation of seedlings in the nursery using these isolates would ensure the production of stronger, healthier plants that would be more resistant to F. circinatum infection, increasing survival in the plantation.