Screening of Streptomyces strains helping arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis against pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Phytophthora blight

Mycorrhiza helper bacteria (MHB) can promote the formation and functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, but their role and application potential in coping with soil-borne diseases are still unclear. A 14-week greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to obtain several actinomycete strains helping AM symbiosis in suppressing the Phytophthora blight of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), using a soil inoculated with Phytophthora capsici after sterilization. Five Streptomyces strains, including S. pseudogriseolus, S. albogriseolus, S. griseoaurantiacus, S. tricolor, and S. tendae, as well as the AM fungus (Funneliformis caledonium) were tested. The Phytophthora blight severity reached 66% at full productive stage in the uninoculated control, and inoculation of F. caledonium, S. griseoaurantiacus, and S. tricolor alone significantly decreased (P < 0.05) it to 47%, 40%, and 35%, respectively. Compared to F. caledonium alone, additional inoculation of S. tricolor or S. tendae, which were isolated from the rhizosphere of a healthy individual in an infected field, significantly elevated (P < 0.05) root mycorrhizal colonization, root biomass, fruit yield, and total K acquisitions of pepper and further significantly decreased (P < 0.05) blight severity. According to the feature of enhancing disease-suppression by AM symbiosis, both S. tricolor and S. tendae were confirmed as MHB strains here. Specifically, S. tendae had a stronger performance in directly accelerating mycorrhization, while S. tricolor was also an antagonist to the pathogenic P. capsici. Furthermore, S. griseoaurantiacus with the independent disease-suppression function was not an MHB strain here. The redundancy analyses demonstrated that when AM fungus was present, root mycorrhizal colonization replaced soil pH becoming the main factor affecting pepper Phytophthora blight. Thus, S. tricolor and S. tendae seemed to have the value of preparation and application in the future to help AM symbiosis against pepper Phytophthora blight.