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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308950
Title: Components of a rice-oilseed rape production system augmented with trichoderma sp. Tri-1 control sclerotinia sclerotiorum on oilseed rape

Author
item HU, XIAOJIA - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item Roberts, Daniel
item XIE, LIHUA - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item Maul, Jude
item YU, CHANGBING - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item LI, YINSHUI - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item ZHANG, YINBA - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item QIN, LU - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item LIAO, XING - Chinese Academy Of Sciences

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/18/2015
Publication Date: 10/1/2015
Citation: Hu, X., Roberts, D.P., Xie, L., Maul, J.E., Yu, C., Li, Y., Zhang, Y., Qin, L., Liao, X. 2015. Components of a rice-oilseed rape production system augmented with trichoderma sp. Tri-1 control sclerotinia sclerotiorum on oilseed rape. Phytopathology. 105:1325-1333.

Interpretive Summary: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum can cause serious yield losses in oilseed crops in the United States and worldwide. Chemical control measures for diseases caused by this pathogen are often ineffective and can be hazardous to man and the environment. Other control measures such as plant breeding and crop rotation have met with limited success. Biological control measures for these diseases need to be developed due to environmental problems associated with existing chemical controls and the limited effectiveness of other traditional control measures. In this study we show that a formulation containing the beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum Tri-1 significantly suppressed disease caused by S. sclerotiorum on oilseed rape in field trials conducted over two years when applied prior to sowing this crop. Oilseed rape seed yield was significantly increased in treatments containing this beneficial fungus as well. Performance by formulated T. harzianum Tri-1 was superior to that obtained with the chemical pesticide recommended for use on this disease. Additionally, applications of this beneficial fungus were compatible with the chemical pesticide suggesting that this formulation containing T. harzianum Tri-1 can be applied with reduced rates of the chemical pesticide. This information will be useful to scientists devising strategies for biological and integrated control of diseases on oilseed crops caused by S. sclerotiorum.

Technical Abstract: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes serious yield losses on many crops throughout the world. In two field trials conducted at the same location in consecutive years, a treatment containing formulated Trichoderma harzianum-1 (Tri-1) resulted in oilseed rape seed yield that was significantly greater than the nontreated and the chemical spray control treatments in the presence of this pathogen and rice straw. Yield data suggested that the rice straw, formulation, and Tri-1 components of this treatment all contributed. Similar treatment results were obtained regarding reduction in disease incidence. The best overall treatment with regard to yield and reduction in disease incidence was the formulated Tri-1 treatment combined with a chemical spray applied at flowering. Reduction in sclerotial germination with the formulated Tri-1 treatment was significantly greater than all other treatments. Application of Tri-1 spores to leaves resulted in increased activities of the plant defense enzymes polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and peroxidase in oilseed rape leaves. The formulated Tri-1 treatment in the presence of rice straw resulted in increased yield relative to the nontreated control in the absence of pathogen, while straw alone and straw + noninoculated formulation treatments did not; suggesting that Tri-1 was capable of promoting growth. Experiments reported here indicate that formulated Tri-1 plus rice straw can control S. sclerotiorum on oilseed rape and promote plant growth in a rice-oilseed rape rotation. It is likely that inhibition of germination of sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum contributed to disease control and possible that induction of plant defense enzymes played a role. These experiments also indicate that Tri-1 can be used in integrated strategies containing chemical sprays for control of S. sclerotiorum on oilseed rape.