Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research (2021) 19 (4 - e1004)

Adrián González-Guzmán, Antonio R. Sánchez-Rodríguez, Enrique Quesada-Moraga, Maria C. del Campillo and Meelad Yousef-Yousef (2021)
Optimizing wheat seed treatment with entomopathogenic fungi for improving plant growth at early development stages
Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research 19 (4 - e1004)
Abstract:
Aim of study: Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are biocontrol agents, plant growth promoters, and increase tolerance to biotic-abiotic stresses. In this study we investigated the factors associated to the application method, which are crucial for the interaction between the fungus and the host plant at initial crop growth stages.
Area of study: The study was performed in Cordoba (Spain)
Material and methods: Three experiments were performed to investigate: (i) the effect of different concentrations of the surfactant Tween^® 80 (0, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10%) on wheat seed coating with conidia of Metarhizium brunneum and seed and conidia viability; (ii) the performance of wheat seedlings at first growth stages after their inoculation with Beauveria bassiana or M. brunneum via seed coating or soil drenching; and (iii) the role of soil sterilization and seed disinfection on leaf concentration of chlorophyll (SPAD) and B. bassiana or M. brunneum colonization.
Main results: Tween^® 80 concentration linearly improved seed coating (up to 127%) without altering wheat seeds and fungal conidia germination. Seedling length of inoculated plants was significantly increased with B. bassiana and M. brunneum (67% and 46%, respectively) via seed coating. Seed disinfection was key to achieve an enhancement in wheat SPAD (10-18%) with B. bassiana or M. brunneum concerning Control, that combined with sterilization of soil showed the highest endophyte colonization rates (up to 83.3% with both fungi)
Research highlights: The surfactant concentration, application method, seed disinfection, and soil sterilization are key parameters to improve the potential benefits on the EPF-plant relationship. (Full text free for older issues.)
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: English)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Enrique Quesada-Moraga

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
application technology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Iraella luteipes	Wheat (Triticum)	Spain (continental)
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)	Iraella luteipes	Wheat (Triticum)	Spain (continental)
Metarhizium brunneum (entomopathogen)	Iraella luteipes	Wheat (Triticum)	Spain (continental)