Degradation of soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity and functionality accompanied by the aggravation of pepper Phytophthora blight in a facility shed in Southwest China

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a vital role in plant's resistance against soilborne pathogens including Phytophthora capsici, which causes the devastating Phytophthora blight and threatens pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivation worldwide. In order to understand the interaction of indigenous AM fungal community and P. capsici during the aggravation of Phytophthora blight, a survey was performed in a facility shed in Southwest China. The blight severity of pepper plants was evaluated based on a 0-5 scale (L0-L5), and the corresponding root AM fungal colonization,

Assessment of soil property in the Guyuan region from Ningxia Province of China and prediction of pepper blight

“…As a result, pepper cultivation in Ningxia Province has steadily increased and created considerable economic value since 2000 (based on the government report data) However, during the growing season, pepper is easily and frequently infected by Phytophthora capsici (P. capsici), severely reducing the yield and economic value [16]. P. capsici is a typical soil-borne pathogen infecting various tissues/organs of pepper plants [17]. Under adverse conditions, P. capsici results in secondary diseases in pepper at the later stage of growth, enhancing crop management cost and reducing the economic benefits [18].…”