Effect of some Nematophagous Fungi on Reproduction of a Nematode Pest, Heterodera schachtii, and Growth of Sugar Beet
Effect of some Nematophagous Fungi on Reproduction of a Nematode Pest, Heterodera schachtii, and Growth of Sugar Beet
Manzoor Hussain*, Miloslav Zouhar and Pavel Ryšánek
ABSTRACT
Heterodera schachtii is a globally important and often marginalized pest of sugar beet, cabbage, broccoli and radish, among other crops. It is a cyst-forming nematode that affects plant growth and yield. We report on studies aimed to evaluate the effects of five nematophagous fungi on the population dynamics of this pest in sugar beets in laboratory and greenhouse trials. The fungi chosen were Arthrobotrys oligospora, Dactylella oviparasitica, Clonostachys rosea, Stropharia rugosoannulata, and Lecanicillium muscarium. In the laboratory experiment, S. rugosoannulata proved to be the most efficient biocontrol agent by parasitizing the maximum number of eggs, whereas D. oviparasitica appeared to be the least efficient after 72 hours. The greatest numbers of cysts and eggs were found to be colonized with L. muscarium during microscopic observations. In the greenhouse experiment, L. muscarium had significant effects in reducing the nematode population in soil compared to the other treatments. In regard to the growth parameters, root and shoot growth (cm) were enhanced after the application of L. muscarium, followed by D. oviparasitica and S. rugosoannulata. The reproductive rate (Rf = Pf/Pi) of nematodes was much higher in the non-treated plants than those that were treated. The root quality of the fungus-treated plants was significantly improved. All fungi conclusively proved to be effective against H. schachtii and need to be further investigated at the molecular level.
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