Interaction between the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus and Pinus resinosa induces resistance to Fusarium oxysporum

Abstract

Inoculation of Pinus resinosa Ait. seedlings with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus Fr. resulted in a 47% increase in resistance to subsequent infection by the root pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. pini as compared with control seedlings. This increase in seedling survival was associated with a sixfold decrease in the sporulation of F. oxysporum in the rhizosphere of seedlings inoculated with Pax. involutus when compared with the rhizosphere of control seedlings. Extraction and bioassay of the seedling rhizosphere and seedling tissues indicated that inoculation with Pax. involutus led to a fivefold increase in antibiotic activity in the rhizosphere of the seedlings treated with Pax. involutus. Most or all of the fungitoxicity was localized in the rhizosphere. Disease suppression by Pax. involutus in P. resinosa is, therefore, associated with an increase of fungitoxic chemicals in the rhizosphere of seedlings.