Microbial priming of micro-propagated banana plantlets reduced effects of nematode and borer weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus) pests and enhanced plantlet growth
Mercy Abwe Ngone, Venissa Bi Nsangli Kanjam, Solange Ndzeshala Takwi, Denis Tange Achiri, Delphine Mapiemfu Lamare, Silke Ruppel, Christopher Ngosong
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background and aims
Nursery and field growth of micro-propagated banana plantlets is influenced by pests, nutrients and substrate quality. This study aims to evaluate the potential of locally produced microbial inoculant to reduce nematode and borer weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus) pest effects on micro-propagated banana plantlets and stimulate growth.
Methods
The potential of locally produced microbial inoculant to reduce nematode and borer weevil pest effects on micro-propagated banana plantlets and stimulate growth was tested in nursery and field conditions. Plantlets were grown in polybags with three substrates (Soil + Coffee husk, Soil + Cocoa pod, and Soil + Empty palm fruit bunch) and two nutrient sources (chemical NPK fertilizer and microbial inoculant) relative to untreated control.
Results
Significant (P < 0.05) root necrosis occurred following nematode inoculation with/without borer weevil at planting or ten weeks after, with lower necrosis in pesticide and microbial inoculant than untreated control. Similarly, significant (P < 0.01) corm damage occurred following borer weevil inoculation with/without nematode at planting or ten weeks after, with lower corm damage in pesticide and microbial inoculant than untreated control. Although similar nursery growth of micro-propagated banana plantlets was observed across substrates, significant (P < 0.05) variation occurred between nutrient sources, with higher growth for NPK and microbial inoculant than untreated control. Similarly, field growth of banana plantlets was higher for NPK and microbial inoculant than untreated control (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
These findings open up avenues for further investigation on role of locally produced microbial inoculant as promising option to reduce effects of nematode and borer weevil pests on micro-propagated banana plantlets and stimulate growth.
期刊介绍:
Plant and Soil publishes original papers and review articles exploring the interface of plant biology and soil sciences, and that enhance our mechanistic understanding of plant-soil interactions. We focus on the interface of plant biology and soil sciences, and seek those manuscripts with a strong mechanistic component which develop and test hypotheses aimed at understanding underlying mechanisms of plant-soil interactions. Manuscripts can include both fundamental and applied aspects of mineral nutrition, plant water relations, symbiotic and pathogenic plant-microbe interactions, root anatomy and morphology, soil biology, ecology, agrochemistry and agrophysics, as long as they are hypothesis-driven and enhance our mechanistic understanding. Articles including a major molecular or modelling component also fall within the scope of the journal. All contributions appear in the English language, with consistent spelling, using either American or British English.