Effect of biochar and beneficial microorganisms on white root rot disease on Japanese apricot plants

Abstract

Abstract Biochar as a soil conditioner is known for affecting several soil and plant properties as well as nutritional status. It can also aid the suppression of soil-borne pathogens. Rosellinia necatrix is a soil-borne microorganism that causes white root rot disease in a large number of plant species, especially fruit trees. The fungus, which occurs worldwide, is very aggressive and difficult to control. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma are beneficial microorganisms (BM) known to aid in soil-borne disease suppression. Biochar has an active effect on the symbiotic relationship between plants and BM. Thus, the objective of this work was to investigate the effect of biochar and BM on Rosellinia necatrix suppression on Japanese apricot. The research was held in 2 phases. In phase 1, performed in vitro, we assessed R. necatrix and T. atroviridae growth in biochar-enriched medium. In phase 2, we inoculated Japanese apricot plants with R. necatrix and assessed disease severity. We discovered that R. necatrix was suppressed by T. atroviridae more efficiently than the control treatment when rice husk biochar was applied at a 0.5% concentration in vitro. We also learned that when rice husk biochar was amended, the effects of R. necatrix on Japanese apricot plants were less severe when compared to the control treatments, with disease progress being slower. We concluded that Rice husk biochar amendment successfully suppressed white root rot disease progression in vitro and in vivo, while bamboo biochar slowed disease progression in vivo. Mycorrhiza did not suppress R. necatrixgrowth.