Effects of Preconditioning Through Mycorrhizal Inoculation on the Control of Melon Root Rot and Vine Decline Caused by Monosporascus cannonballus

Abstract

The use of inoculum of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in nursery represents a promising field in horticulture because of its known benefits in terms of plant growth and bioprotection. The present work was undertaken to determine the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation with Rhizophagus irregularis in a nursery medium on the containment of melon root rot and vine decline (MRRVD) caused by the soil-borne pathogen Monosporascus cannonballus. The percentage of mycorrhization, biomass and yield following mycorrhizal inoculation were also evaluated. Biocontrol activity was assessed in greenhouse pot experiments upon artificial inoculation of M. cannonballus and in a two-season field experiment under production conditions in an unheated greenhouse with a history of MRRVD. On the basis of the mycorrhization parameters, the interaction appeared to be established within 30 days after inoculation. The total shoot growth in the mycorrhized plants was significantly higher when compared to the control, while the root growth was unaffected. Upon artificial inoculation of M. cannonballus, mycorrhization provided complete protection against the pathogen. Greenhouse experiments under production conditions during spring cropping season showed that pretransplanting inoculation with R. irregularis significantly decreased the severity of the disease. Also, the average fruit weight of mycorrhized plants was significantly higher than the untreated control. Nevertheless, in summer crop, the bioprotection activity of AMF failed. Present results indicate that the use of AMF in a nursery setting can contribute to the prevention of the onset of this problematic soil-borne disease within a sustainable and integrated soil-borne disease management.

The effects of different organic fertilizers and reduced doses of chemical fertilizer applications on yield and quality traits in greenhouse melon cultivation

“…In a study investigating the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on melon yield and quality in the greenhouse, they reported that AMF vaccine was effective in plant growth, increased chlorophyll content and photosynthesis rate in leaves, increased melon yield and increased nutrient conten (HE et al, 2010). Aleandri et al (2015) According to the results of the study on melon; They concluded that Rhizophagus applications together with AMF are the most effective applications in improving growth, physiologically and biochemically.…”

Application of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Vineyards: Water and Biotic Stress Under a Climate Change Scenario: New Challenge for Chilean Grapevine Crop

“…The ability to repel or tolerate pathogens will depend on the AMF species, although the repellent effect of AMF cannot be generalized, which is not applicable for the management of all pathogens ( Pozo and Azcón-Aguilar, 2007 ). However, the application of AMF prior to infection by nematodes not only controls the population of these pathogens and the symptoms that they cause but also increases the average weight of fruits and plant growth ( Aleandri et al, 2015 ).…”

Influence of Monosporascus root rot and vine decline disease on the amino acid metabolism of watermelon fruit

“…M. cannonballus appears to be adapted to hot, semiarid, and arid climates and grows optimally at higher temperatures over 25°C (Martyn, 1996; Cohen et al, 2012). The causal pathogen responsible for MRRVD is not only M. cannonballus , but the disease is often associated with a complex interplay between the zoosporic fungus Olpidium bornovanus , O. virulentus , and an aggressive melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) (Aleandri et al, 2017; Rhouma et al, 2019). MRRVD severely impairs fruit yield (Cohen et al, 2005; Jang et al, 2014), and fruit quality parameters such as total soluble solids and titratable acidity (Jang et al, 2014).…”