Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizae and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris: effects on fungal development, seedling growth and wilt disease suppression in Cicer arietinum L.

Abstract

The purpose of present study was to develop a management strategy based on a time effective inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to mitigate the yield losses of Cicer arietinum L. due to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc). The interactions between AMF (mycorrhizal consortium; Myc) and Foc were studied in three separate experiments in two successive years (2011 and 2012). In particular, we investigated: the effect of Myc on population density of Foc, the effect of Foc on mycorrhisation (root colonisation index and AMF spore density/50 g sand) and the interactive effects of Myc and Foc on growth, phosphorus (P) content and disease severity index of C. arietinum. Results suggested that pre-inoculating plants with AMF (Myc + Foc) considerably reduced Foc population density, while combined (Myc/Foc) and early inoculation of AMF (Myc + Foc) increased mycorrhisation, growth and P content of plants. Combined and early inoculation of AMF reduced disease severity index up to 68 and 89.5%, respectively. Thus, the results suggested that soil pretreated with AMF acted as bioprotectant against the Fusarium. In conclusion, Myc should be inoculated before transplantation of crop seedlings to the fields. However, extrapolation of the results to the real field conditions should be done with caution because of differences in growth conditions and substrate used in present study i.e. net house and sand, respectively.

Keywords:

• arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
• bioprotection
• chickpea
• Fusarium
• wilt disease

Acknowledgements

This manuscript is based upon work supported by the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India. Ashok Shukla gratefully acknowledges UGC-Dr D.S. Kothari Post Doctoral Fellowship Scheme [Sanction No. 4-2/2006(BSR)/13-255/2008(BSR)], Government of India for providing financial support. The authors are thankful to Head, Department of Botany, Dr Hari Singh Gour Central University, Sagar, India for facilitating the research program and constant encouragement during the study.

Notes

This work was supported by Dr D.S. Kothari Post Doctoral Fellowship Scheme [sanction No. 4-2/2006(BSR)/13-255/2008(BSR)] of University Grants Commission, Government of India.