Impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Species on Heterodera glycines

Authors: PAWLOWSKI, MICHELLE - University Of Illinois; Hartman, Glen

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2020
Publication Date: 3/19/2020
Citation: Pawlowski, M., Hartman, G.L. 2020. Impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Species on Heterodera glycines. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-20-0102-RE.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-20-0102-RE

Interpretive Summary: Soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines) is a widely occurring pathogen and the leading cause of soybean yield losses in the USA. There is a need to find additional SCN management strategies as sources of SCN resistance have become less effective in keeping SCN populations in check. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic relationships with roots of most plants including soybean. Research has shown that AMF can reduce disease severity in plants caused by pathogens and pests, including plant parasitic nematodes. The goal of this study was to determine if AMF could suppress SCN. In one experiment, five AMF species tested reduced the number of cysts on soybean roots by 59% to 81% compared to soybean roots without AMF. In two other experiments, one AMF species reduced the counts of SCN by 60% and was able to suppress egg hatching by as much as 30%. Further research is needed to exploit the potential usefulness of these AMF in field conditions with the goal of providing another management tool to reduce the impact of SCN on soybean production. This work is important to plant pathologist, nematologists, industry scientists working on non-chemical control of SCN, and to growers that may use these tools in the future to manage SCN.

Technical Abstract: Soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines) is a widely occurring pathogen and the leading cause of soybean yield losses in the USA. There is a need to find additional SCN management strategies as sources of SCN resistance have become less effective in keeping SCN populations in check. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic relationships with roots of most plants including soybean. Research has shown that AMF can reduce disease severity in plants caused by pathogens and pests, including plant parasitic nematodes. The goal of this study was to determine if AMF could suppress SCN. In one experiment, all five AMF species tested (Claroideoglomus claroideum, Diversispora eburnean, Dentiscutata heterogama, Funneliformis mosseae, and Rhizophagus intraradices) reduced (P < 0.05) the number of cysts on soybean roots by 59% to 81% compared to soybean roots without AMF. In two other experiments, F. mosseae reduced the counts of SCN juveniles (J2-J3 stages) in soybean roots by 60% and was able to suppress egg hatching by as much as 30%. These experiments showed that AMF were able to suppress SCN cyst counts and at least with F. mosseae, reduce SCN juveniles in roots and suppress egg-hatching. Further research is needed to exploit the potential usefulness of these AMF in field conditions and to determine the usefulness and potential of the compounds associated with SCN hatching suppression by F. mosseae with the goal of providing another management tool to reduce the impact of SCN on soybean production.