@Article{phyton.2024.057591,
AUTHOR = {Abdelhak Rhouma, Lobna Hajji-Hedfi, Nahla Alsayd Bouqellah, Pravin Babasaheb Khaire, Samar Dali, Omaima Bargougui, Amira Khlif, Laith Khalil Tawfeeq Al-Ani},
TITLE = {Uniting the Role of Entomopathogenic Fungi against <i>Rhizoctonia solani</i> JG Kühn, the Causal Agent of Cucumber Damping-Off and Root Rot Diseases},
JOURNAL = {Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany},
VOLUME = {93},
YEAR = {2024},
NUMBER = {11},
PAGES = {2857--2881},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/phyton/v93n11/58788},
ISSN = {1851-5657},
ABSTRACT = {<i>Beauveria bassiana</i> and <i>Metarhizium</i> spp. are entomopathogenic fungi with potential applications beyond insect pest control, including plant disease suppression, plant growth promotion, and rhizosphere colonization. This study investigated the plant growth-promoting characteristics and extracellular enzyme activities of <i>Metarhizium</i> spp. and <i>B. bassiana</i> in relation to phytopathogen interactions and plant growth. Additionally, the efficacy of these fungi in mitigating damping-off and root rot caused by <i>Rhizoctonia solani</i> on cucumber plants was evaluated <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. Results indicate that <i>B. bassiana</i> and <i>M. anisopliae</i> produce indole-3-acetic acid, hydrocyanic acid, and hydrolytic enzymes. Seed treatment with these fungi significantly reduced disease severity (3.85%–1.86%, respectively) and enhanced germination parameters [germination percentage (85.33%–86%, respectively), germination index (10.67–12.29, respectively), seedling length vigor index (86.41–109.44, respectively), and seedling weight vigor index (30.24–37.57, respectively)] compared to the control positive. Both fungi demonstrated high inhibition rates of <i>R. solani</i> mycelial growth (93.90%–90.46%, respectively). Greenhouse trials revealed that preventive treatments using <i>B. bassiana</i> and <i>M. anisopliae</i> increased catalase (104.40–105.52 units/mg protein/min, respectively), (4.58–5.77 units/mg protein/min, respectively), superoxide dismutase (40.65–41.74 units/mg protein/min, respectively), and polyphenol oxidase (0.539–0.559 units/mg protein/min, respectively) activities, as well as total phenolic (2.60–2.65 mg/g, respectively) and total sugar content (2.23–2.16 mg/g, respectively) in cucumber plants. Consequently, disease severity (9.51–6.99%, respectively) was reduced, and plant height (93.76–98.76 cm, respectively) increased compared to the positive control. These findings suggest that <i>B. bassiana</i> and <i>M. anisopliae</i> can enhance plant growth, stimulate plant defense mechanisms, and effectively control damping-off and root rot diseases, making them promising candidates for biological control strategies.},
DOI = {10.32604/phyton.2024.057591}
}