Sulfur Application Combined with Planomicrobium sp. Strain MSSA-10 and Farmyard Manure Biochar Helps in the Management of Charcoal Rot Disease in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), a member of the Asteraceae, is one of the major oilseed crops around the world. Charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid is the most damaging disease of sunflowers globally. Fungicides are mostly used to control charcoal rot; however, these cause environmental pollution and pose adverse effects on the ecosystem. Therefore, ecofriendly management options are inevitable for the management of charcoal rot disease. Plant mineral nutrition, the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and biochar have recently been manipulated for the management of different plant diseases. However, the interactive effects of all these treatments have rarely been tested on charcoal rot suppression in sunflowers. This study assessed the influence of sulfur (0 and 2.25 mg/kg) combined with farmyard manure biochar (2%), NPK (20:20:20 mg/kg) and three different plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains on the charcoal rot suppression growth, yield, biochemistry and physiology of sunflower. The PGPR strains included in the study were Bacillus sp. strain MR-1/2 (regarded as PGPR1), Achromobacter sp. strain FB-14 (regarded as PGPR2) and Planomicrobium sp. strain MSSA-10 (regarded as PGPR3). The charcoal rot infestation was induced by inoculating the soil with M. phaseolina, and the impacts of the different treatments were studied on the disease infestation, growth, yield, biochemistry and physiology of sunflowers under 0 and 2.25-mg/kg S application. The results revealed that farmyard manure biochar and Planomicrobium sp. strain MSSA-10 in combination with 2.25-mg/kg S proved effective for the management of charcoal rot disease through regulating the antioxidant enzymes’ activities and strengthening the immune system of sunflower plants. The studied health markers (total chlorophyll content and carotenoids) and stress markers (total protein content, catalase and peroxidase) were significantly altered by the applied treatments under 0 and 2.25-mg/kg S applications. The findings of the experiment indicated that both farmyard manure biochar and Planomicrobium sp. strain MSSA-10, combined with 2.25-mg/kg S, could be used to enhance the crop yield and manage charcoal rot disease in sunflowers. Farmyard manure biochar and Planomicrobium sp. strain MSSA-10 are an easy-to-apply, cost-effective, ecofriendly and sustainable option for the management of charcoal rot disease in sunflowers.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria improve growth and yield related attributes of chili under low nitrogen availability

“…However, these studies used only one PGPR, while we used two PGPRs indicating that both worked synergistically to improve the studied traits of chili. The PGPRs probably improved these traits by producing different compounds (like phytohormones, organic acids and siderophore), N-fixing, P solubilization and production of biologically active constituents [ 16 – 20 ].…”

“…Application of PGPRs can protect crop plants from various biotic and abiotic stresses [ 11 , 13 – 15 ]. The PGPRs improve plant growth by several ways, i.e., by producing different compounds (like phytohormones, organic acids and siderophore), by fixing atmospheric N, through P solubilization and through production of biologically active constituents [ 16 – 20 ]. Therefore, PGPRs have been evolved as a sustainable management source for improving crop productivity.…”

Effect of Trichoderma Viride and Rice Straw Biochar on the Development of Charcoal Rot in Maize

“…along with sulfur demonstrated notable efficacy in the control of charcoal rot disease in sunflower plants. This efficacy is attributed to their collective impact on modulating the activities of antioxidant enzymes and enhancing the immunity of sunflower plants (Ijaz et al 2021). Similarly, rice straw biochar at lower application rates was found to be more effective in controlling charcoal rot disease either with or without T. viride in maize under glasshouse conditions.…”

Identifications of charcoal resistance hybrids among sunflower genotypes by using line by tester analysis

“…Plants were observed daily and symptoms were recorded at the time of anthesis. Symptoms were recorded on the basis of the severity of appearance of lesions on the stem and recorded as lodging (5), severe but no lodging (4), medium (3), minor (2) and no lesion (1) (Shehbaz et al 2018).…”