Efficacy of Glomus aggregatum and Bacillus subtilis as biocontrol agents for reducing fusarium root-rot in soybean plants [electronic resource].

Includes references.

A mycorrhizal fungus Glomus aggregatum (VAM), and a bacterial isolate Bacillus subtilis (Bs), were evaluated individually or in combination with Bradyrhizobium japonicum (Rh) as biocontrol agents for reducing root-rot disease caused by fusarium oxysporum (F.O.) in soybean plants, under greenhouse conditions. In non-inoculated (control) plants, infestation of soils with F.O. drastically reduced plant growth parameters compared to non-infested ones. However, the detrimental effects caused by F.O. infestation were less detected in VAM and/or Bs inoculated treatments, being the least pronounced in the VAM+Bs treatment. In plants inoculated with B. japonicum, fusarium infestation resulted in variable decreases in number and dry weight of nodules, plant growth and seed yield. However, rhizobial inoculated-plants could withstand the stress of fusarium infestation when biologically controlled with G. aggregatum and/or B. subtilis. Results pointed out that the observed prophylactic effects of mycorrhizal inoculation was not only related with plant nutrition, but also related with reduction of disease severity.

Summary in Arabic.

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