Soil-less cultivations are good alternatives to open field crops in terms of productivity, lower energy consumption, control of plant growth, independence from soil quality, as well as reduced environmental impact. However, the higher risk of crown and root pathogens spreading through the nutrient solution, is one of the main limiting factor for a widespread of closed-loop systems. The present study was aimed at monitoring the state of rose plant health during the crop cycle in closed hydroponic systems and to characterize bacterial and fungal species present in flower greenhouse farms of Apulia. To this aim experiments were performed to: (i) monitor, quantify and identify the main pathogens and non pathogenic microorganisms of rose; (ii) evaluate in vitro and in vivo and on different hydroponic matrices, the antagonist activity of selected biocontrol agents against rose fungal pathogens. The main pathogens of rose recovered from hydroponic growth matrices were fungi belonging to Fusarium, Acremonium, Phaeoacremonium and Cylindrocarpon spp. A higher population density of nonpathogenic microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) was recovered where coconut fiber was used as a solid matrix. In biocontrol tests carried out in a hydroponic greenhouse farm, isolates of Trichoderma viridae and T. harzianum, were more effective antagonists of rose fungal pathogens than some potential antagonist bacteria. The results are discussed in relation to the potential combined application of growth media and biocontrol agents to control fungal pathogens of flower plants in hydroponic cultivation systems.
ROLE OF ANTAGONIST MICROFLORA AND SOLID MATRICES IN THE CONTROL OF FUNGAL PATHOGENS OF ROSE IN HYDROPONIC CROP
LIMA, Giuseppe;
2013-01-01
Abstract
Soil-less cultivations are good alternatives to open field crops in terms of productivity, lower energy consumption, control of plant growth, independence from soil quality, as well as reduced environmental impact. However, the higher risk of crown and root pathogens spreading through the nutrient solution, is one of the main limiting factor for a widespread of closed-loop systems. The present study was aimed at monitoring the state of rose plant health during the crop cycle in closed hydroponic systems and to characterize bacterial and fungal species present in flower greenhouse farms of Apulia. To this aim experiments were performed to: (i) monitor, quantify and identify the main pathogens and non pathogenic microorganisms of rose; (ii) evaluate in vitro and in vivo and on different hydroponic matrices, the antagonist activity of selected biocontrol agents against rose fungal pathogens. The main pathogens of rose recovered from hydroponic growth matrices were fungi belonging to Fusarium, Acremonium, Phaeoacremonium and Cylindrocarpon spp. A higher population density of nonpathogenic microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) was recovered where coconut fiber was used as a solid matrix. In biocontrol tests carried out in a hydroponic greenhouse farm, isolates of Trichoderma viridae and T. harzianum, were more effective antagonists of rose fungal pathogens than some potential antagonist bacteria. The results are discussed in relation to the potential combined application of growth media and biocontrol agents to control fungal pathogens of flower plants in hydroponic cultivation systems.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
