The Potential of <i>Rhizoctonia</i>-Like Fungi for the Biological Protection of Cereals against Fungal Pathogens

• Main Authors: Dominik Bleša, Pavel Matušinský, Romana Sedmíková, Milan Baláž
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: <i>Rhizoctonia</i>-like fungi; biocontrol; <i>Fusarium culmorum</i>; <i>Serendipita indica</i>; <i>Microdochium bolleyi</i>; <i>Ceratobasidium</i> sp.
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/349

The use of biological control is becoming a common practice in plant production. One overlooked group of organisms potentially suitable for biological control are <i>Rhizoctonia</i>-like (<i>Rh-</i>like) fungi. Some of them are capable of forming endophytic associations with a large group of higher plants as well as mycorrhizal symbioses. Various benefits of endophytic associations were proved, including amelioration of devastating effects of pathogens such as <i>Fusarium culmorum</i>. The advantage of <i>Rh</i>-like endophytes over strictly biotrophic mycorrhizal organisms is the possibility of their cultivation on organic substrates, which makes their use more suitable for production. We focused on abilities of five <i>Rh</i>-like fungi isolated from orchid mycorrhizas, endophytic fungi <i>Serendipita indica</i>, <i>Microdochium bolleyi</i> and pathogenic <i>Ceratobasidium cereale</i> to inhibit the growth of pathogenic <i>F. culmorum</i> or <i>Pyrenophora teres</i> in vitro. We also analysed their suppressive effect on wheat infection by <i>F. culmorum</i> in a growth chamber, as well as an effect on barley under field conditions. Some of the <i>Rh</i>-like fungi affected the growth of plant pathogens in vitro, then the interaction with plants was tested. Beneficial effect was especially noted in the pot experiments, where wheat plants were negatively influenced by <i>F. culmorum</i>. Inoculation with <i>S. indica</i> caused higher dry shoot biomass in comparison to plants treated with fungicide. Prospective for future work are the effects of these endophytes on plant signalling pathways, factors affecting the level of colonization and surviving of infectious particles.