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Suppression of Fusarium wilt of watermelon by a bio-organic fertilizer containing combinations of antagonistic microorganisms

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Abstract

Fusarium wilt of watermelon commonly occurs in locations where the crop has been grown for many seasons. Its occurrence results in a severely decreased watermelon crop. The goal of this study was to assess the capability of a new product (bio-organic fertilizer) to control the wilt in Fusarium-infested soil. Pot experiments were conducted under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the fertilizer controlled the wilt disease. Compared with control pots, the incidence rates of Fusarium wilt at 27 and 63 days following treatment of the plants with the bio-organic fertilizer at a rate of 0.5% (organic fertilizer + antagonistic microorganisms, including 3 × 109 CFU g−1 Paenibacillus polymyxa and 5 × 107 CFU g−1 Trichoderma harzianum) were reduced by 84.9 and 75.0%, respectively, in both the growth chamber and greenhouse settings. The activities of antioxidases (catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) in watermelon leaves increased by 38.9, 150 and 250%, respectively. In the roots, stems and leaves, the activity of β-1,3-glucanase (pathogenesis-related proteins) increased by 80, 1140 and 100% and that of chitinase increased by 240, 80, and 20%, respectively, while the contents of malondialdehyde fell by 56.8, 42.1 and 45.9%, respectively. These results indicate that this new fertilizer formula is capable of protecting watermelon from Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum. The elevated levels of defense-related enzymes are consistent with the induction and enhancement of systemic acquired resistance of plant.

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Abbreviations

BOF:

Bio-organic fertilizer

CAT:

Catalase

FON:

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.nevium

LPO:

Lipid peroxidation

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

OF:

Organic fertilizer

POD:

Guaiacol peroxidase

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Science and Technology Ministry of China on project for Basic research on fertilizer saving and efficiency improvement for sustainable utilization of farmland (2007CB109304, 2006GB23600454, 2006AAD10Z416 and 2006BAD10B09) and the Agricultural Ministry of China (2006-G62 and 06-07-04B). We would like to thank Professor Frank White, Kansas State University, and Dr. Scott Johnson, Scottish Crop Research Institute, for their warmhearted and careful correction for this manuscript. We would also like to thank Dr. Xiaoyu Wang and Dr. Jiahuan Zhang, both from the College of Plant Protection NAU, for their beneficial suggestions and technical aid during the experiments. Our thanks also go to junior students, Ming Yang, Xiaoli Xiong and Zhu Tang, for their help in the experiments.

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  1. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1#, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, China

    Hong-sheng Wu, Xin-ning Yang, Jia-qin Fan, Wei-guo Miao, Ning Ling, Yang-chun Xu, Qi-wei Huang & Qirong Shen

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  1. Hong-sheng Wu
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Correspondence to Qirong Shen.

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Handling editor: Monica Höfte.

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Wu, Hs., Yang, Xn., Fan, Jq. et al. Suppression of Fusarium wilt of watermelon by a bio-organic fertilizer containing combinations of antagonistic microorganisms. BioControl 54, 287–300 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-008-9168-7

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