Enhancing Induced Resistance In Tomato Plants Against Root Wilt Disease Using The Mycorrhizal Fungus Glomus Mosseae And Its Impact On Secondary Phenolic Compound Accumulation

Abstract

Root wilt is a devastating disease affecting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) yields globally and is caused by soil-borne fungal pathogens. PurposeThis study was initiated to test the effect of the arbuscular- mycorrhizal- fungus (AMF), Glomus mosseae (GM), on the expression of induced systemic resistance against the wilt pathogen of areca palm, Fusarium brachygibbosum (Fb). A greenhouse experiment was performed under four treatments: Control, GM-only (T1), Fb-only (T2) and a mixture of GM+Fb (T3). The findings showed that GM inoculation resulted in considerably higher growth and physiological attributes. At the 10th week, GM alone resulted in the tallest plants (94.75 cm) and flowering of plants (mean = 6.5) only in the treated group. Inoculation with Fb elicited drastic growth retardation and decreased total chlorophyll to 354.82, however, dual inoculation (GM+Fb) dramatically recovered plant height (77.75 cm) and chlorophyll content (454.65). THE TPC measurement showed a remarkably powerful "priming" effect in GM + Fb treatment which was the largest among the groups (226.42 mg/g), the group with the highest TPC only containing Fb (179,62 mg/g). In addition, the activities of defence-related enzymes, Peroxidase (POD) and Polyphenol Oxidase (PPO), peaked in GM+Fb group (0.11 and 0.62 respectively), suggesting a strong enhancement of the antioxidant protection of plants. ConclusionsCollectively, these data support the conclusion that G. mosseae protects pine seedlings from F. brachygibbosum by a morphological and biochemical synergetic mechanism of resistance. From an applied perspective, this relationship embodies an environmentally sound and sustainable approach to control root wilt diseases within integrated pest management programs. Giuseppe G. Casaluce, 2015