Título: Biological Control of Three Fungal Diseases in Strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa) with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
Autor: Demir, Semra; Durak, Emre Demire; Günes, Hasret; Boyno, Gökhan; Mulet, José Miguel; Danesh, Younes Rezaee; Porcel, R
Resumen: [EN] Similar to many other plant-based products, strawberries are susceptible to fungal diseases
caused by various pathogen groups. In recent years, efforts have been made to combat these
diseases using biological control methods, particularly the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal
fungi (AMF). This study aimed to determine the effects of AMF (Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) and
Gigaspora margarita (Gm)) on Rhizoctonia fragariae (Rf), Fusarium oxysporum (Fo), and Alternaria alternata
(Aa), which are major pathogens for strawberry. The results showed that the effects of AMF on
disease severity and plant growth varied depending on the pathogens involved. Rf caused the
highest disease severity, followed by Fo and Aa, but all AMF treatments significantly reduced the
disease severity compared to control treatments. The study also found that the specific AMF species
and their combinations influenced plant growth responses under different pathogenic conditions.
Different AMF treatments resulted in varying increases in plant fresh weight, dry weight, and length,
depending on the pathogen. Moreover, the application of AMF led to increased levels of total
phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and phosphorus content in pathogen-infected plants compared
to control treatments. Fm was more efficient than Gm in increasing these biochemical parameters.
The levels of root colonization by AMF were similar among different AMF treatments, but the effects
on fungal spore density varied depending on the pathogen. Some AMF treatments increased fungal
spore density, while others did not show significant differences. In conclusion, our research sheds
light on the differential effects of AMF species on disease severity, plant growth, and biochemical
parameters in strawberry plants facing diverse pathogens. These findings underscore the potential
benefits of AMF in disease management, as they reduce disease severity and bolster plant growth
and defense mechanisms.
