Effects of root-invading fungi on the growth of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Pathology at Massey University
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Date
1989
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Massey University
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Abstract
Methods to monitor invasion of red clover roots by soilborne fungi, and assess effects on clover growth and persistence, were developed and tested using soil from a plant breeder's red clover evaluation block at DSIR Grasslands Division, Palmerston North, which was known to contain several fungal species pathogenic to red clover. A quantitative method employing tissue maceration and plating was used to determine the internal microflora of red clover roots from the evaluation block. Effects of environmental factors, and of application of fungicide drenches to the soil, on root invasion under controlled environment and field conditions were also studied using the root maceration method. Fungi isolated from roots of red clover from the evaluation block were tested for their effects on establishment, growth, and persistence of red clover in the glasshouse and in field microplots. Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to study invasion of red clover roots by Trichocladium basicola, and the effects of the fungicides benomyl and prochloraz on this fungus in vitro and in vivo. The root maceration method detected a similar range of fungi to that found by plating 1 - 2 mm long segments, but yielded more colonies and showed less variation. Using standardised amounts of tissue and blending times (2 g and 60 or 120 sec.) differences in fungal populations in roots subjected to different treatments were readily detected. Verticillium dahliae, Trichocladium basicola, and Cylindrocladium scoparium were the major components of the root-invading mycoflora of red clover in the evaluation block, which consisted of 40 fungal species. Other major invaders were Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, Cylindrocarpon destructans, and Gliocladium roseum, which are the fungi most commonly isolated from roots of red clover and other forage legumes worldwide. Fungal invasion of red clover roots was affected by plant age, soil temperature and moisture. Generally, numbers of fungal colonies isolated progressively increased from the seedling stage onwards and more colonies were isolated from roots of plants grown at 20 and 25°C than at 10 and 15°C, and from 60 and 80% WHC than at 40% WHC. Prochloraz was the most suitable of 11 fungicides tested for use as a soil drench to study effects of root-invading fungi on red clover growth in the field. It showed a broad spectrum of antifungal activity, controlled the major root-invading fungi encountered in the experimental soil, was not toxic to Rhizobium trifolii, and was least retardant to red clover growth. The numbers of fungal colonies recovered per gram of roots was 60 - 80% lower from plants from field plots receiving a single application of prochloraz drench at 3.46 g/m2 than from plants from untreated plots. Yields from treated plots harvested 4 times over a period of 45 weeks were 28 - 95% higher than those from untreated plots. The major root-invading fungi isolated from red clover plants grown in the plant breeder's evaluation block, Cy. scoparium, T. basicola, F. solani, and F. oxysporum, reduced survival of red clover plants in field plots and microplots by 20-75%, and dry matter yield by 20-60%, over a periods of 62 and 76 weeks. V. dahliae, C. destructans, and G. roseum, also reduced plant growth in field plots but to a lesser extent. Seedling establishment, and nitrogen fixation and nodulation, were affected adversely by some fungal isolates. T. basicola was found to penetrate roots of red clover directly and colonise tissue by means of "beaded hyphae" (intracellular hyphae which were constricted at their septa) then "straight hyphae" (unconstricted hyphae growing parallel to the root axis). The fungus is hemibiotrophic. Invaded host cells in the epidermis and cortex of the root are apparently unaffected at first then degenerate and die. Papillae are often found at sites of penetration through cell walls but these rarely obstruct fungal development. Pre-treatment of seedlings with benomyl or prochloraz reduced fungal penetration and growth within tissues. Changes in fungal ultrastructure resulting from benomyl treatment were an increased frequency of lomasome production and occasionally a disorganisation of cell contents. Changes resulting from prochloraz treatment included thickening and fragmentation of cell walls, and necrosis of hyphal cells.
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Red clover, Growth, Pests and diseases, Phytopathogenic fungi