Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) bark, a substrate with anti-pathogen properties that suppress some root diseases of tomato

doi:10.1016/S0304-4238(98)00262-3

Scientia Horticulturae

Volume 81, Issue 1, 29 April 1999, Pages 13-24

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4238(98)00262-3 Get rights and content

Abstract

There were no significant differences in the content of nutrient elements and the growth of tomato plants on rockwool and on hinoki bark fiber slabs. However, the incidences of fusarium crown and root rot (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici), and bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas solanacearum) were greatly reduced by hinoki bark. The populations of Fusarium or Pseudomonas were significantly lower in hinoki bark or in the vascular bundles of hinoki-bark-grown plants than in rockwool or in rockwool-grown plants, respectively. Ethanol extracts of the bark greatly inhibited Fusarium and Pseudomonas. The inhibition was caused mainly by volatile oils and non-volatile substances in the bark with both neutral substances and acidic substances having high activity against the pathogens.

Introduction

Rockwool is one of the most popular and successful substrates used in soilless culture due to its stable pH and air–water holding qualities (Hardgrave and Harriman, 1994). However, there are increasing numbers of farmers who are worried about the harmful effects of rockwool fiber on human health, the problems of disposal after use and the susceptibility of crops to root diseases. This has inspired a worldwide search for local materials which are readily available, affordable and suitable for use as growing media (Ortega et al., 1996). Among them, by-products from the forestry industry (bark, sawdust) are the candidates most frequently mentioned (Nakano, 1994). Methods such as composting, aging, washing, mixing or fertilization have also been used to reduce or eliminate toxicity problems due to organic or inorganic substances and unsuitable C/N ratios (Nichols, 1981; Yates and Rogers, 1981).

Recently, Yu and Komada (1995)carried out a series of investigations on substrates which are suppressive to root diseases and are recyclable. Sugi bark is a candidate (Yu et al., 1997). Meanwhile, these authors also tried to use bark fiber of hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa), a perennial tree widely grown for the forestry industry in Asian countries, as substrate in soilless culture and have obtained satisfactory results (Terada, 1993). The bark has a fibrous structure, a proper pH value (5.6), a low electrical conductivity (EC; 0.36 mS cm⁻¹) and a C/N ratio of 90. Interestingly, the bark is hardly decomposed and the replacement of rockwool with hinoki bark substrate decreased the losses caused by root-infection pathogens (Terada, 1993). The objective of the present work was to study the suppressive effects of hinoki bark on fusarium crown and root rot and bacterial wilt of tomato, the two main diseases in the soilless culture of tomato in Asian countries and to characterize the anti-pathogenic substances in the bark.

Section snippets

Pathogens

(1) Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (provided by Mie Agricultural Experiment Station, Japan), (2) Pseudomonas solanacearum E.F. Smith with strain p1-18-1 (provided by JT Co. Lmt, Japan).

Plant

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill, cv. Ponderosa, provided by Takii Seed Co. Lmt, Japan).

Substrates

(1) Commercial rockwool slabs (40 cm × 25 cm × 8 cm) purchased from Nitoubo Fiber, Japan were used as control, the pH was adjusted to 5.6 with 0.1 N HCl prior to use. (2) Hinoki bark slab; the water saturated bark

Effects of substrates on element content in leaves and the growth of tomato plant

Plants in rockwool and in hinoki bark grew vigorously and no unusual symptoms such as nitrogen deficiency on hinoki bark plants, a common symptom for plants grown in barks, were observed during the experiment. Chemical analysis showed that there were no significant differences in element content in the laminae of rockwool-grown plants and hinoki-grown plants (Table 1). Most importantly, there were also no significant differences in plant height, leaf number and dry matter production between the

Discussion

In addition to physical and chemical factors, availability, affordability and the treatment after use are also important factors to be considered in evaluating the suitability of a material as a substrate for soilless culture (Leoni et al., 1988; Martinez and Abad, 1993). Hinoki bark, a common waste product of the wood industry in Asia, has the requested gaseous phase : liquid phase : solid phase ratio and the requested pH (Terada, 1993). Although the raw bark contained some hydrophically phenolic

Acknowledgements

This study was partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. We thank Dr. Y. Ooze, Prof. of Shimane University of Japan for his technical assistance in the GC/MS analysis.

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Scientia Horticulturae

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Pathogens

Plant

Substrates

Effects of substrates on element content in leaves and the growth of tomato plant

Discussion

Acknowledgements

References (17)

The effects of Pinus radiata bark toxicity on the early growth of plants in containers

Sci. Hortic.

Behavior of different horticultural species in phytotoxicity bioassay of bark substrates

Sci. Hortic.

Antifungal activity of woody essential oil

Wood Preservation

Phytotoxic constituents in the bark and sawdust extracts of Chamaecyparis obstusa and Cryptomeria japonica and their effects on the growth of seedlings of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata Raf.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.)

J. Jpn. Soc. Hortic. Sci.

Improvement on selectivity of nitrate non-utilizing mutant selective medium for Fusarium

Plant Epidemic Prevention

Soilless culture of tomato in different mineral substrates

Acta Horticulturae

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The Precious Potential of the Sacred Tree Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. as a Source of Secondary Metabolites with Broad Biological Applications

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