Beneficial endophytic microorganisms of Brassica – a review

Publication date: Available online 6 June 2015 Source:Biological Control Author(s): Stuart D. Card , David E. Hume , Roodi Davood , Craig R. McGill , James P. Millner , Richard D. Johnson Brassica species display enormous diversity and subsequently provide the widest assortment of products used by man from a single plant genus. Many species are important for agriculture, horticulture, in bioremediation, as medicines, soil conditioners, composting crops, and in the production of edible and industrial oils such as liquid fuels and lubricants. Many wild Brassica relatives possess a number of useful agronomic traits, including beneficial microbial endophytes that could be incorporated into breeding programs. Endophytes of Brassica, and/or their metabolites, have been demonstrated to improve and promote plant growth; increase yield; reduce disease symptoms caused by plant pathogens; reduce herbivory from insect pests; remove contaminants from soil; improve plant performance under extreme conditions of temperature and water availability; solubilise phosphate and contribute assimilable nitrogen to their hosts. Brassica napus (oilseed rape) and B. oleracea var. botrytis (broccoli and cauliflower) are the most economically important species of Brassica worldwide. These commercial crops are attacked by a wide range of pathogens and insect pests that are responsible for millions of dollars in lost revenue, with current control options offering little mitigation. No alternativ...

Source: Biological Control - June 10, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research