Effect of Rhizospheric Fungus on Biological Control of Root Rot (Fusarium equiseti) Disease of Saposhnikovia divaricata

Abstract

Saposhnikovia divaricata is a high-demand medicinal plant containing various bioactive metabolites (e.g., chromone). However, root rot disease leads to a dramatic reduction in the yield and quality of S. divaricata. The use of rhizospheric microorganisms is one of the best strategies for biological control. In this study, a total of 104 fungi isolated from the rhizospheric soil of S. divaricata plants were examined for their different antifungal properties. Subsequently, strain MR-57 was selected as a potential stock for biocontrol due to its broad-spectrum antagonistic activity against pathogens, including F. equiseti. Based on the analysis of morphological properties and rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITSs), strain MR-57 was identified as Acrophialophora jodhpurensis (GenBank No. OK287150.1), a newly recorded species for China. In an in vitro antifungal assay, the culture filtrate of strain MR-57 significantly reduced the conidial germination rate and induced alterations in the mycelia morphology of F. equiseti, such as deformation and degradation. To assess the antifungal efficacy of MR-57 against root rot disease and the properties promoting the growth of S. divaricata, pot experiments were performed under natural outdoor conditions. The results indicated that co-inoculation with MR-57 delayed the occurrence of S. divaricata root rot and showed a control efficacy of 65.41% (p < 0.05) based on the measurement of suppressed disease lesions. Additionally, MR-57 successfully colonized and formed a stable population in the soil in which S. divaricata was grown, and it exhibited a consistently positive effect on the promotion of the growth of S. divaricata plants. In short, Acr. jodhpurensis MR-57 could be considered for the development of a potential biocontrol agent for the management of S. divaricata root rot caused by F. equiseti.

Evaluation of Tunisian wheat endophytes as plant growth promoting bacteria and biological control agents against Fusarium culmorum

“…Antibiosis of selected bacterial strains. The five isolates selected based on their growth inhibition percentage calculated during the dual culture assay were further studied for their in vitro antibiosis activity [39]. Liquid LB media (25 mL for each repetition) were inoculated with 1 mL of fresh bacterial culture (OD at 595 nm = 1) in 50 mL conical centrifuge tubes.…”

Genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses provide insights into the evolution and development of a medicinal plant Saposhnikovia divaricata (Apiaceae)

“…Previous studies revealed that chromones, coumarins, and volatile oils are the main active components of S. divaricata [ 1 , 6 , 7 ], and are responsible for its analgesic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-convulsant, and anti-coagulant effects [ 1 , 8–11 ]. Previous studies of S. divaricata have mainly focused on its pharmacological effects [ 9 , 12–14 ], biocontrol potential of rhizospheric fungus [ 15 , 16 ], physiological and ecological characteristics [ 17 ], transcriptomics [ 18 ], and antioxidant activity [ 19 ]. To date, little information is available about the genetic diversity and evolution of S. divaricata .…”