Piriformospora indica reduces fusarium head blight disease severity and mycotoxin DON contamination in wheat under UK weather conditions

Abstract

Piriformospora indica (Sebacinaceae) is a cultivable root endophytic fungus. It colonizes the roots of a wide range of host plants. In many settings colonization promotes host growth, increases yield and protects the host from fungal diseases. Evaluation was made of the effect of P. indica on fusarium head blight (FHB) disease of winter (cv. Battalion) and spring (cv. Paragon, Mulika, Zircon, Granary, KWS Willow and KWS Kilburn) wheat and consequent contamination by the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) under UK weather conditions. Interactions of P. indica with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Funneliformis mosseae), fungicide application (Aviator Xpro) and low and high fertilizer levels were considered. Piriformospora indica application reduced FHB disease severity and incidence by 70%. It decreased mycotoxin DON concentration of winter and spring wheat samples by 70 and 80%, respectively. Piriformospora indica also increased aboveground biomass, 1000-grain weight and total grain weight. Piriformospora indica reduced disease severity and increased yield in both high and low fertilizer levels. The effect of P. indica was compatible with F. mosseae and foliar fungicide application. Piriformospora indica did not have any effects on plant tissue nutrients. These results suggest that P. indica might be useful in biological control of Fusarium diseases of wheat.

Fusarium Head Blight Modifies Fungal Endophytic Communities During Infection of Wheat Spikes

“…These communities of endophytic organisms (endophytes) appear to be ubiquitous among species in the kingdom Plantae and are thought to interact closely with the plant as commensals or symbionts [11]. The importance of these communities in plant fitness has emerged in recent years [12] and certain of these fungi or whole communities in concert are considered to be involved in increased tolerance to stress [13,14] and competition with pathogens [15].…”

Comparison of wheat growth-response to endophytic Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) derived from an insect versus plant host

“…Endophytic colonisation of such seedlings, with special emphasis on improved root development (on average, 65% increase in fresh root biomass among the three dryland-production cultivars tested in this study) may hold significant advantages; a notion supported by the findings in our plant-response trials. According to Rabiey and Shaw (2016), application of the root-colonising endophyte, Piriformospora indica (Sebacinaceae) to wheat, reduced FHB disease severity and incidence by 70%, while lowering mycotoxin (DON) concentration of winter and spring wheat samples by 70 and 80%, respectively. The approach also increased aboveground biomass, 1000-kernel weight and total grain weight.…”

Biological Control of Mycotoxigenic Fungi and Their Toxins: An Update for the Pre-Harvest Approach

“…Another approach to enhance the plant resistance is through colonization. Extensive research is being done to discover endophytic microorganisms which colonize plant (tissue) without harming the plant [98] to reduce the plant diseases and mycotoxins in crops [99][100][101][102][103]. Endophytes can enhance plant growth and fitness, and offer protection against biotic and abiotic stresses by inducing plant defense responses.…”

“…However, low levels of NIV in the cereals treated with F. equiseti were detected [51]. Recently, Piriformospora indica has proven its promising ability to reduce the severity the disease caused by F. graminearum and mycotoxin DON contamination in wheat by 70-80% and increase the total grain weight of F. graminearum-inoculated samples by 54% [100]. Novel bacterial endophytes predicted to be Paenibacillus polymyxa and Citrobacter were able to detoxify DON in vitro, but the performance of some of these isolated strains under field condition or in green house has not been reported yet [99].…”