Efficacy of Biological Control Agents and Resistance Inducer for Control of Mal Secco Disease

Leonardi, Giuseppa Rosaria; Polizzi, G.; Vitale, A.; Aiello, Dalia

doi:10.3390/plants12091735

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Biological control offers a promising approach for managing fungal diseases, providing an alternative to chemical fungicides. The use of biocontrol agents offers several advantages, including pathogen reduction, environmental friendliness, promotion of plant growth, enrichment of beneficial microbial communities, improved crop resistance, enhanced soil fertility, increased fertilizer efficiency, and mitigation of cultivation obstacles [11,[33][34][35]. Therefore, continuous screening and discovery of highly efficient and long-lasting beneficial microorganisms for soil-borne disease control is necessary.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Biocontrol Strain of Serratia plymuthica MM Promotes Growth and Controls Fusarium Wilt in Watermelon

Li,

Ma,

et al. 2023

Agronomy

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Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON), is a predominant and devastating soil-borne disease that results in significant yield losses in watermelon cultivation. In this study, a strain MM isolated from the herbage rhizosphere soil, exhibited an inhibition rate of 65.46% against FON, leading to mycelial collapse, atrophy, and deformation. In pot experiments, strain MM effectively controlled Fusarium wilt of watermelon, showing a control efficacy of 74.07%. Through morphological observation and 16S rDNA gene sequencing, strain MM was identified as Serratia plymuthica. Additionally, S. plymuthica MM demonstrated antagonistic activity against eight plant pathogens, indicating that MM had broad-spectrum antifungal activity. The strain also exhibited the ability to synthesize siderophores and indole acetic acid (IAA), both of which are growth-promoting compounds. Moreover, strain MM secreted various extracellular enzymes, including protease, chitinase, β-glucanase, and cellulase. This ability allowed S. plymuthica MM to readily colonize watermelon roots and promote seedling growth. Inoculation with S. plymuthica MM increased the activity of PAL, POD, PPO, and CAT enzymes associated with watermelon defense. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis revealed up-regulation of LOX, POD, PAL, ClPR3, and C4H genes, which are related to plant disease resistance. The results indicated that S. plymuthica MM enhances watermelon plants’ resistance to FON by activating the JA, SA, and shikimic acid phenylpropanoid–lignin synthesis pathways. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of S. plymuthica MM culture supernatant identified piperazinedione, pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, and octadecenamide as the main antimicrobial substances. Overall, S. plymuthica MM shows promise as a biocontrol agent against Fusarium wilt of watermelon, suggesting its potential for the development of a new biocontrol agent.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Biocontrol Strain of Serratia plymuthica MM Promotes Growth and Controls Fusarium Wilt in Watermelon

Li,

Ma,

et al. 2023

Agronomy

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“…However, an integrated approach combining agronomic practices and foliar pesticide application offers some level of infection containment. Ongoing research is exploring biological mitigation through biocontrol agents and defense-inducing bacterial sprays on the canopy [6][7][8][9]. Many studies have been carried out on the genetic improvement of lemon cultivars, aimed at combining resistance to mal secco with the satisfaction of agronomic and qualitative traits [10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Microbial Communities in Lemon Orchards Affected by Citrus Mal Secco Disease

Mosca,

Dimaria,

Nicotra

et al. 2024

Genes

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Mal secco is a vascular disease of citrus caused by the mitosporic fungus Plenodomus tracheiphilus. Soil containing infected plant material constitutes an inoculum source for root infections. In this study, the soil bacterial and fungal communities of five lemon orchards located in Syracuse Province (Sicily, Italy) affected by mal secco were analyzed. Soil samples were collected under lemon tree canopies and subjected to total genomic DNA extraction. The fungal DNA was detected through qPCR in all orchards, with variable concentrations. Bacterial and fungal communities were profiled using 16S and ITS amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing, respectively. According to our results, the relative abundances of the most represented bacterial phyla (e.g., Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Acidobacteriota) changed across the orchards, while in the fungal community, the phylum Ascomycota was dominant, with Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota abundances fluctuating. On the whole, β diversity analysis showed significant variation in the composition of the soil microbial communities across the orchards. This result was confirmed by the analysis of the core community (taxa present at ≥ 75% of total samples), where putative beneficial bacteria resulted in significantly enriched fungus-infected soil samples, suggesting complex microbial interactions. Our findings shed light on the composition and diversity of the soil microbiome in lemon orchards with the occurrence of mal secco infections.

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Control of Mal secco disease in lemon by drip irrigation with fungicide

Ezra,

Ovadia

2024

Phytoparasitica

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Mal secco disease of citrus is caused by the mitosporic ascomycete fungus Plenodomus tracheiphilus (formerly Phoma tracheiphila [Petri]). Mal secco is a highly destructive vascular disease of lemon and other citrus which is presently confined to the Mediterranean basin and has a marked economic impact on the citrus industry. The fungal pathogen infects the host tree by penetrating through wounds in the roots or canopy. Infection spreads quickly into the main branches and trunk and tree mortality usually ensues. The most typical symptoms are veinal chlorosis, leaf wilt, red discoloration of the xylem and dieback of twigs and branches. Current accepted control of the disease is mainly by sanitation of infected wood, and copper application during the winter to prevent germinating spores from infecting the plant. No effective chemical control for this disease has been reported. We present a drip-irrigation protocol to protect trees and control the disease in which we apply 250 g/ha of the triazole fungicide flutriafol five times a year. Progression of disease symptoms in the treated trees was inhibited by up to 81% compared to the untreated control, thereby significantly shortening the sanitation process and making it less costly than in untreated trees. Moreover, disease symptoms became less severe as the duration of treatment increased. We have treated orchards for 3 years, and present an effective commercial protocol for the growers which will help them control Mal secco disease.

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Efficacy of Biological Control Agents and Resistance Inducer for Control of Mal Secco Disease

Cited by 9 publications

References 34 publications

A Biocontrol Strain of Serratia plymuthica MM Promotes Growth and Controls Fusarium Wilt in Watermelon

A Biocontrol Strain of Serratia plymuthica MM Promotes Growth and Controls Fusarium Wilt in Watermelon

Soil Microbial Communities in Lemon Orchards Affected by Citrus Mal Secco Disease

Control of Mal secco disease in lemon by drip irrigation with fungicide

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