|
Abstract
|
Tomato damping-off, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is one of the most common
diseases worldwide. The use of biological control agents to protect plants against pathogens
seems to be an appropriate solution. Beauveria bassiana as an endophytic fungus can colonize
a wide range of plants in a systemic manner and enhance plant resistance. In this study, the
ability of three isolates of B. bassiana to control damping-off of tomato seedlings was examined.
The effect of B. bassiana on the induced systemic resistance enzymes such as peroxidases (POX)
and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and also the phenolic compounds content in plant
resistance was measured. Our results showed that B. bassiana isolates especially TS12 and TS7
resulted in an increase in the activity of POX and PAL enzymes as well as enhanced the contents
of phenolic compounds in treated plants. The results of greenhouse studies showed that each
of the three isolates were able to successfully control tomato damping-off. However, this ablity
was probably due to the stimulation of plant growth by KJ24, but TS12 and TS7 isolates acted
through the stimulation of “induced systemic resistance” in plants.
|