Amendment with peony root bark improves the biocontrol efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum against Rhizoctonia solani

J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2008 Sep;18(9):1537-43.

Abstract

We tested Trichoderma harzianum as a biocontrol agent for Rhizoctonia solani AG2-1, using six natural antifungal materials to improve its efficacy. Among the six materials tested, peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) root bark (PRB) showed the strongest antifungal activity against R. solani AG2-1, and was not antagonistic to T. harzianum. Scanning electron microscopy showed that treatment with PRB extract resulted in shortened and deformed R. solani AG2-1 hyphal cells. The control of radish damping-off caused by R. solani AG2-1 was greatly increased by combined treatments of T. harzianum and PRB, as compared with either of the two treatments alone, with the control effect increased from 42.3-51.5% to 71.4-87.6%. The antifungal compound in PRB, which was isolated in chloroform and identified as paeonol by mass spectrometry, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR analyses, inhibited the growth of R. solani AG2-1 but not that of T. harzianum. Thus, PRB powder or extract may be used as a safe additive to T. harzianum to improve the control of the soil borne diseases caused by R. solani AG2-1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Antifungal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Paeonia / chemistry
  • Pest Control, Biological / methods*
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Raphanus / microbiology
  • Rhizoctonia / drug effects*
  • Rhizoctonia / growth & development*
  • Rhizoctonia / pathogenicity
  • Soil Microbiology
  • Trichoderma / drug effects
  • Trichoderma / physiology*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Plant Extracts