Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Clonostachys rosea strain IK726 and Pseudomonas chlororaphis strain MA342 are two promising biocontrol microbes which both has various biocontrol mechanisms to control many seed and soil-borne plant diseases. Because a potential additive effect may exist between these two biocontrol microbes, like an expanded antagonistic spectrum and enhanced persistence of biocontrol effect, we expected to get a more competitive biocontrol with a mixture of IK726 and MA342. Strong colonization and high persistence ability on seed and root is one important trait of a potential biocontrol agent. This study was aimed to estimate the colonization ability on seed and root under the circumstances of joint and alone applications of IK726 and MA342 as seed-dressing on spring wheat cultivar Dacke. By comparing the dilution plating results of joint and alone inoculated treatments, we observed that IK726 slightly reduced the initial seed inoculum of MA342. But in the treatment with or without IK726, MA342 persisted a stable population density in root that is distinct from previous research. We got an unexpected result from dilution plating that IK726 has not been detected on the root of spring wheat which has been confirmed by PCR results. Mycelial growth and sporulation lagged behind root-tip elongation, and nutrient deficiency might be the causes of the poor performance of IK726 on spring wheat root.