Showing papers by "Yasmeen Siddiqui published in 2015"

In vitro screening of biocontrol and biodegradation potential of selected hymenomycetes against Ganoderma boninense and infected oil palm waste

Abstract: Summary The antagonistic and enzymatic activities of non-pathogenic hymenomycetes naturally occurring on oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) trunks were assessed to determine their potential as biocontrol agents against G. boninense. Twenty-five Basidiomycota were isolated on a Ganoderma-selective medium and identified using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. The three fungi with potentially higher antagonistic activity against G. boninense, based on the percentage inhibition of radial mycelial growth (PIRG) in dual culture, were Pycnoporus sanguineus (84%), Trametes lactinea (82%) and Grammothele fuligo (81%). In addition to these three isolates, Lentinus tigrinus and a Rigidoporus sp. were also able to invade sterilized oil palm blocks previously colonized by G. boninense despite having lower PIRG values. Colonization of oil palm blocks by G. fuligo, P. sanguineus, Rigidoporus sp., T. lactinea and L. tigrinus resulted in mass losses of 32.50, 30.78, 27.64, 25.20 and 19.33%, respectively, probably due to an ability to produce one or more lignocellulolytic enzyme. Further work is needed to determine the enzymatic degradation potential of these fungi under natural conditions and their possible use in the prevention of colonization of oil palm by G. boninense.

Biocontrol of Plant Parasitic Nematodes by Fungi: Efficacy and Control Strategies

Abstract: Increasing knowledge and growing concern about the elevated cost of inorganic fertilizers or chemical pesticides with their vast applications on various crop plants has raised interest in the alternative method of plant disease protection caused by plant parasitic nematodes. These alternative methods are not only cost-effective but also eco-friendly to the environment and human health. Among the various rhizospheric microorganisms, opportunistic fungi like Paecilomyces lilacinus, Pochonia chlamydosporia, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have the potential to reduce the severity of diseases caused by plant parasitic nematodes and also improved the plant growth and biomass production. This chapter provides an overview on the biocontrol potential of opportunistic as well as AM fungi on the growth and development of various crop plants. The details about the interactions between these fungi and plant parasitic nematodes have been discussed. An overview of the recent cost-effective technologies used for the mass propagation of these beneficial rhizospheric microorganisms is also discussed.

Bio-intensive management of fungal diseases of fruits and vegetables utilizing compost and compost teas

Abstract: Compost has been used in agriculture and horticulture for a long time as a fertilizer or a soil conditioner. However, in recent years the focus has been placed on the disease-suppressive effects of the compost and its aqueous extracts. Several composts and their water extracts have been investigated on different diseases especially on those caused by soilborne pathogens throughout the world. Conversely, an increase in disease incidence has also been reported. Therefore, it remains the fact that compost application can suppress the diseases in positive, neutral, and even negative manner. This makes the utilization of compost intricate as a robust prevalent approach to mitigate plant diseases. The mechanisms involved in the disease suppression are not fully known. The disease-suppressive effect of the compost could be attributed to various mechanisms including the presence of antagonistic microbes and unidentified chemical factors in them, antibiosis, and induction of systemic resistance in plants and improvement of the overall health of plants. This chapter focuses on the influence of compost and compost teas on the suppression of foliar and soilborne fungal diseases of fruits and vegetables. The factors limiting and enhancing their efficacy will also be discussed.