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Granular formulations and seed coating: delivery options for two fungal biological control agents of Striga hermonthica

Festformulierungen und Saatgutbehandlung: Möglichkeiten der Ausbringung zweier pilzlicher Antagonisten von Striga hermonthica

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Abstract

A two-seasons outdoor pot experiment was conducted in Sudan to study the efficacy of two Fusarium isolates on controlling Striga hermonthica. “Pesta” and alginate formulations with different amendments were deployed, in addition to seed coating treatments as an alternative delivery option. Alginate granules generally gave higher numbers of colony forming units (cfu) per g of formulated material compared to “Pesta”. For the diverse fungal isolates, different formulations proved to be most suitable. The best Striga control efficacy was obtained by Fusarium Abuharaz (FA) formulated in “Pesta” which almost completely inhibited Striga emergence in both seasons resulting in a highly significant increase of sorghum plant height (by 80 and 59%) and sorghum shoot dry weight (391 and 240%), respectively. Fusarium species in alginate pellets also significantly delayed Striga emergence, reduced the total number of Striga throughout the growing seasons, and generally also significantly increased sorghum plant height and sorghum shoot dry weight compared to the control. Sorghum seed coating with the bioagents also showed a potential to control Striga although its efficacy was generally lower than that obtained by granular formulations.

Zusammenfassung

Mit dem Ziel, die Effektivität zweier Fusarium-Isolate hinsichtlich der Kontrolle von Striga hermonthica zu untersuchen, wurde in zwei Vegetationsperioden ein Freiland-Topfversuch im Sudan durchgeführt. Zusätzlich zu granulären “Pesta“ und Alginat-Formulierungen mit verschiedenen Zusätzen wurden Saatgutbehandlungen als alternative Ausbringmethode getestet. Die Formulierung der Antagonisten in Alginat-Pellets erbrachte generell eine höhere Anzahl von koloniebildenden Einheiten (“colony forming units”, cfu) pro Gramm formuliertem Material verglichen mit der Formulierung in “Pesta”-Granulaten. Für die verschiedenen pilzlichen Isolate erwiesen sich unterschiedliche Formulierungen als optimal. Die beste Striga-Kontrolle wurde durch das Ausbringen von Fusarium Abuharaz (FA) in “Pesta”-Granulaten erreicht, welches das Auflaufen von Striga in beiden Vegetationsperioden fast vollständig verhinderte. Dies spiegelte sich in einem signifikanten Anstieg der Pflanzenhöhe (um 80 bzw. 59%) und des Sprosstrockengewichts der Wirtspflanze Sorghum (391 bzw. 240%) wider. Nach Applikation der Fusarium-Isolate in Alginat-Pellets konnte ebenfalls ein signifikant verzögerter Striga-Auflauf sowie eine verringerte Anzahl aufge laufener Striga-Sprosse beobachtet werden. Im allgemeinen wurde auch hier die Pflanzenhöhe sowie das Sprosstrockengewicht von Sorghum im Vergleich zur Kontrolle signifikant erhöht. Die Behandlung der Sorghum-Samen mit den pilzlichen Antagonisten zeigte ebenfalls eine Kontrollwirkung hinsichtlich des Striga-Befalls, allerdings blieb ihre Effektivität hinter der der Festformulierungen zurück.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics (380), University of Hohenheim, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany

    E. Zahran & J. Sauerborn

  2. Agriculture Research Corporation and Technology, P. O. Box 126, Gezira, Sudan

    A. Abd Elmagid

  3. Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Abuharaz, P. O. Box 42, Gezira, Sudan

    A. A. Abbasher

  4. Section of Crop Science, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Copenhagen, Hpjbakkegard Alle 13, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark

    D. Müller-Stöver

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  1. E. Zahran
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  2. J. Sauerborn
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  3. A. Abd Elmagid
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  4. A. A. Abbasher
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  5. D. Müller-Stöver
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Correspondence to E. Zahran.

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Zahran, E., Sauerborn, J., Abd Elmagid, A. et al. Granular formulations and seed coating: delivery options for two fungal biological control agents of Striga hermonthica. J Plant Dis Prot 115, 178–185 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03356257

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03356257

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