Synergistic effect of Trichoderma-derived antifungal metabolites and cell wall degrading enzymes on enhanced biocontrol of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum

Publication date: Available online 8 December 2015 Source:Biological Control Author(s): Kandasamy Saravanakumar, Chuanjin Yu, Kai Dou, Meng Wang, Yaqian Li, Jie Chen Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an important vegetable crop grown worldwide. However, its productivity is largely suppressed the phytopathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (FOC). We screened 100 isolates of Trichoderma as potential biocontrol agents against FOC. Both in vitro and in vivo methods were used, followed by the analysis of synergistic effect of cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) and its secondary metabolites. In addition, molecular target of growth regulating protein of FOC (Snt2, a BAH/PHD containing transcription factor) was also studied. Of the 100 isolates of Trichoderma, 10 isolates with more than 85% inhibition rate were selected for in vivo antagonism in greenhouse experiment. Trichoderma asperellum strain CCTCC-RW0014 was found to have good biocontrol potential with high disease reduction of 71.67%. The RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the ITS copies of T. asperellum CCTCC-RW0014 were significantly higher in the cucumber roots treated with T. asperellum CCTCC-RW0014. Whereas the ITS copies of FOC declined in plants root in the presence of T. asperellum CCTCC-RW0014 and FOC. T. asperellum CCTCC-RW0014 showed high hydrolytic activity of chitin (87.5±3.21%), gelatin (84.8±2.56%), carboxymethyl cellulose (52.9±1.23%) and pachyman (60.5±2.32%). The crude enzymes; namely ...
Source: Biological Control - Category: Biology Source Type: research