Biofumigation potential of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) to manage Rhizoctonia solani

Abstract

In Egypt, Rhizoctonia solani is an economically important fungal pathogen on many crops such as common bean causing serious yield losses. Biofumigation with Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), as a potential alternative to the restricted fumigant methyl bromide, is gaining attention in sustainable vegetable production. In this study, laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the biofumigation effect of B. juncea, used as dry plants, seed meal, seed powder, methanol extract, and fresh plants (at the vegetative and flowering stages), against R. solani. Results showed that hexane defatted seed meal was the most efficient one, followed by the seed powder, fresh plants at the flowering stage then fresh plants at the vegetative stage. The fungal inhibition rate was 61.5, 50.2, 49.9, and 47.7%, respectively. While the dry plants at both flowering and vegetative stage recorded the lowest suppressive effect (44.3 and 39.1%, respectively). The findings open up the possibility of using the B. juncea in managing the root rot fungus, not only as a common green manure but also as a defatted seed meal.

Full-Season Cover Crops and Their Traits That Promote Agroecosystem Services

“…We found the Brassicaceae significantly reduced the abundance of potential plant fungal pathogens. Brassicaceae, and more specifically mustards, have been deemed ideal for biologically suppressing plant pathogens such as plant parasitic nematodes and fungal pathogens due to their production of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates [114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122]. However, it has also been shown that isothiocyanates produced by Brassica kaber and Brassica nigra inhibit mycorrhizal fungi [123].…”

Biofumigation: Prospects for Control of Soil Borne Plant Diseases

“…In laboratory trials, it has been found that isothiocyante (ITC) and nitriles are effective at controlling bacteria, fungus, insects, and nematodes as well as bacteria (Delaquis and Mazza, 1995;Sarwar et al, 1998;Noble et al, 1999). Abdallah and Kandil (2020) conducted few experiments to examine the effect of Brassica juncea, as a biofumigant . The best result was found in defetted seed meal against Rhizoctonia solani.…”

Recent Approaches towards Control of Fungal Diseases in Plants: An Updated Review

“…A recent laboratory and greenhouse study was carried out in Egypt which involved use of biofumigation with Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) to control Rhizoctonia solani infection of the common bean. They used Brassica juncea as fresh and dry plants, methanol extract, or seed powder and meal [16].…”