Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seed biopriming with antagonistic microbes and their defense activity against damping-off disease in solanaceous vegetable crops

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Indian Phytopathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Damping-off disease caused by various soil and seed borne pathogens is of prime concern in nursery raised solanaceous vegetable crops. Use of chemicals for its management is quite an effective strategy, however, due to environmental concerns chemical application is reduced. Seed biopriming is a novel green approach that can be employed in mitigating the incidence of damping-off disease. Present study was performed to analyze the potential of antagonistic microbes as seed biopriming treatments and their efficacy in managing the disease along with their ability to induce defense activity. Fungal and bacterial antagonists were firstly screened for their efficacy against the pathogens and later seeds of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), chilli (Capsicum annuum var. annuum L.) and capsicum (Capsicum annuum var. grossum L.) were bioprimed with effective antagonists. The enzyme activity of seedlings grown from bioprimed seeds of tomato, chilli and capsicum and sown in organic extract amended soil was estimated under in vitro conditions. Among the different bio-inoculants tested against damping-off pathogens, highest inhibition of mycelial growth of Pythium was recorded by Trichoderma virens Pers. (88.70%) followed by Trichoderma harzianum Rifai (83.85%). Mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. was also significantly inhibited by T. harzianum (86.55%). Biopriming of tomato and chilli seeds with Trichoderma virens recorded disease suppression of 57.87 and 54.71%, respectively. However, in capsicum seed biopriming with Trichoderma atroviride Pers. recorded 55.51% reduction in seedling mortality as compared to control. Enzyme activity in terms of PPO, PO, TPC and PAL was recorded which is significant in tomato, chilli and capsicum seeds bioprimed with T. harzianum, T. atroviride and Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula in combination with NSKE. These results marked the potential of seed biopriming with native isolates of Trichoderma that possesses enhanced enzyme activity in seedlings and this strategy can be used as an eco-friendly alternative of synthetic chemicals in disease management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All the data collected and analyzed during the present study are included in the article as a supplementary information file. A separate supplementary file (separately for tables and Figures) is included in the submission portal for figures as well as tables.

References

  • Amin F, Razdan VK (2010) Potential of Trichoderma species as biocontrol agents of soil borne fungal propagules. J Phytol 2(10):38–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Amruta N, Prasanna MK, Kumar HK, Kandikattu G, Sarika ME, Puneeth HP, Ranjitha K, Vishwanath C, Manjunatha D, Pramesh HB, Mahesh HB, Narayanaswamy S (2019) Bio-priming of rice seeds with novel bacterial strains for management of seedborne Magnaporthe oryzae L. Plant Physiol Rep 24(4):507–520

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ananthi M, Selvaraju P, Sundaramlingam K (2017) Evaluation of seed biopriming with biocontrol agents and biopesticides spraying on pests and its effect on seed yield and quality in chilli. J Entomol Zool 5:667–672

    Google Scholar 

  • Anita P, Aarti L, Ashwin L, Paikrao H, Subhdha M (2012) In vitro antagonistic properties of selected Trichoderma sp. against tomato root rot causing Pythium aphanidermatum. Int J Science Environ Sci Technol 1(4):302–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous (2022) Food and Agriculture Organization [http://www.fao.org]. Accessed on 5th July 2023.

  • Barnett HL, Hunter BB (1972) Illustrated genera of imperfect fungi, 3rd edn. Burgess Publishing Co., Minneapolis, p 244

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhardwaj S (2019) Bio-intensive management of damping-off of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) (M.Sc. Diss). Dr. YS Parmar UHF, Nauni Solan HP, p 49

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth C (1971) The Genus Fusarium. Kew, UK, Commonwealth Mycological Institute, p 237

    Google Scholar 

  • Callan NW, Mathre D, Miller JB (1990) Bio-priming seed treatment for biological control of Pythium ultimum pre-emergence damping-off in sh-2 sweet corn. Plant Dis 74:368–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chakrabarti A, Das S, Basu A, Raj SK (2005) Bio-antagonist combinations against Pythium damping off of brinjal. J Mycol Plant Pathol 35(3):537

    Google Scholar 

  • Champawat RS, Sharma RS (2003) Integrated management of nursery disease in brinjal, chilli, cabbage and onion. J Mycol Plant Pathol 33(2):290–291

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chavan AA, Deshpande GD, Zagade SN (2012) Evaluation of Trichoderma species against Pythium ultimum pathogenic to tomato. Int J Plant Prot 5(1):147–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Dar GH, Mir GH, Rashid H, Dar WA, Majeed M (2015) Evaluation of microbial antagonists for the management of wilt/root rot and damping-off diseases in chilli (Capsicum annuum). Vegetos 28(4):102–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dinesh R, Anandaraj M, Kumar A, Bini YK, Subila KP, Aravind R (2015) Isolation, characterization, and evaluation of multi-trait plant growth promoting rhizobacteria for their growth promoting and disease suppressing effects on ginger. Microbiol Res 173:34–43

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elshahawy IE, El-Mohamedy RS (2019) Biological control of Pythium damping-off and root-rot diseases of tomato using Trichoderma isolates employed alone or in combination. J Plant Pathol 101:597–608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elshahawy I, Abouelnasr HM, Lashin SM, Darwesh OM (2018) First report of Pythium aphanidermatum infecting tomato in Egypt and its control using biogenic silver nanoparticles. J Plant Prot Res 58(2):137–151

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gholve VM, Tatikundalwar VR, Suryawanshi AP, Dey U (2014) Effect of fungicides, plant extracts/botanicals and bioagents against damping-off in brinjal. African J Microbiol Res 8(30):2835–2848

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gowthamy U, Manonmani V (2018) Seed bio-priming with Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. PKM1. Int J Agric Sci 10(21):7485–7487

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooda KS, Joshi D, Dhar S, Bhatt JC (2011) Management of damping-off of tomato with botanicals and bio-products in North Western Himalayas. Indian J Hortic 68(2):219–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyder S, Gondal AS, Rizvi ZF, Atiq R, Haider MIS, Fatima N, Inam-ul-Haq M (2021) Biological control of chilli damping-off disease caused by Pythium myriotylum. Front Microbiol 12:587431

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Idowu OO, Oni AC, Salami AO (2016) The interactive effects of three Trichoderma sp. and damping-off causative pathogen Pythium aphanidermatum on emergence indices, infection incidence and growth performance of sweet pepper. Int J Recent Sci Res 7:10339–10347

    Google Scholar 

  • ISTA (1999) International rules for seed testing. Seed Science and Technology Supplement Rules 27:25–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Jain A, Singh S, Sarma BK, Singh HB (2012) Microbial consortium mediated re-programming of defense network in pea to enhance tolerance against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. J Appl Microbiol 112:537–550

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jamal A, Farhat H, Urooj F, Rahman A, Irfan M, Ehteshamul HS (2021) Characterization of endophytic yeast and its suppressive effect on root rotting fungi of tomato under neem cake soil amendment. Egypt J Biol Pest Control 31:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jena N (2012) Pseudomonas and Trichoderma: The most effective bio-control agents against damping-off pathogens of vegetable crops. Asian Jr of Microbiol Biotech Env Sc 14(2):295–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamali P, Akila R, Thiruvudainambi S, Vellakumar S, Theradimani M (2020) Actinomycotic efficacy of organic amendments against Pythium aphanidermatum, incitant of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) damping-off. Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci 9(11):3582–3589

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar R (2017) Studies on damping-off of tomato caused by Pythium sp. (M.Sc. Thesis). Dr. YS Parmar UHF, Nauni Solan HP, p 56

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Munder A, Aravind R, Eapen SJ, Tümmler B, Raaijmakers JM (2013) Friend or foe: Genetic and functional characterization of plant endophytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Environ Microbiol 15:764–779

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar R, Gupta SK, Gupta M (2018) Investigation on etiology and epidemiology of damping-off of tomato seedlings in mid hills of Himachal Pradesh. Indian Phytopathol 71:513–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamichhane JR, Durr C, Schwanck AA, Robin MH, Sarthou JP, Cellier V, Aubertot JN (2017) Integrated management of damping-off diseases- A review. Agron Sustain Dev 37:10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Majeed M, Mir GH, Hassan M, Mohuiddin FA (2019) Biological management of damping-off disease of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). Ecol Environ Conserv 25(1):353–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Manoranjitham SK, Prakasam V, Rajappan K, Amutha G (2000) Effect of two antagonists on damping-off disease of tomato. Indian Phytopathol 53(4):441–443

    Google Scholar 

  • Muthukumar A, Eswaran A, Nakkeeran S, Sangeetha G (2010) Efficacy of plant extracts and biocontrol agents against Pythium aphanidermatum inciting chilli damping-off. Crop Prot 29(12):1483–1488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naik MK, Madhukar HM, Rani GD (2009) Evaluation of biocontrol efficacy of Trichoderma isolates and methods of its application against wilt of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) caused by Fusarium solani (Mart) Sacc. J Biol Control 23(1):31–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Nirmalkar VK, Tiwari RKS, Singh S (2018) Efficacy of bio-agents against damping-off in solanaceous crops under nursery conditions. Int J Plant Prot 11(1):1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Pal J (2019) Studies on management of white root rot (Dematophora necatrix Hartig) of apple in Himachal Pradesh. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni Solan HP, Dr. Dr, p 203p

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandey PK, Yadav SK, Singh A, Sarma BK, Mishra A, Singh HB (2012) Cross-species alleviation of biotic and abiotic stresses by the endophyte Pseudomonas aeruginosa PW09. J Phytopathol 160:532–539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parameter JR (1970) Rhizoctonia solani. University of California Press, London, Biology and Pathology, p 225p

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Raj H, Bhardwaj ML, Sharma NK (1997) Soil solarization for the control of damping-off of different vegetable crops in the nursery. Indian Phytopathol 50(4):524–528

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajput RS, Singh J, Singh P, Vaishnav A, Singh HB (2020) Influence of seed biopriming and vermiwash treatment on tomato plant’s immunity and nutritional quality upon Sclerotium rolfsii challenge inoculation. J Plant Growth Regul 40:1493–1509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramamoorthy V, Raguchander T, Samiyappan R (2002) Enhancing resistance of tomato and hot pepper to Pythium diseases by seed treatment with fluorescent pseudomonads. Eur J Plant Pathol 108:429–441

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rani SU, Satheesh G (2007) Management of damping-off of tomato caused by Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitz. through biocontrol agents, organic amendments and soil solarization. Plant Dis Res 22(1):27–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma P, Bhatt A, Jyoti B (2018) Effect of seed bio-priming with microbial inoculants on plant growth, yield and yield contributing characters in soybean (Glycine max L. Merril). Int J Economic Plants 5(2):053–058

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shinde MS, Rakholiya KB, Waghunde RR (2016) In vitro efficacy of bioagent and organic amendment against damping-off of tomato pathogen. World J Pham and Life Sci 2(6):165–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh P, Singh J, Ray S, Rajput RS, Vaishnav A, Singh RK, Singh HB (2020b) Seed biopriming with antagonistic microbes and ascorbic acid induce resistance in tomato against Fusarium wilt. Microbiol Res 237:126482

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tyagi A (2018) Integration of soil solarization and beneficial soil microflora for management of Rhizoctonia stem rot of chrysanthemum (PhD. Thesis). Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni Solan HP, p 106p

    Google Scholar 

  • Vejan P, Abdullah R, Khadiran T, Ismail S, Nasrulhaq Boyce A (2016) Role of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in agricultural sustainability- A review. Molecules 21(5):573

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Waterhouse GM (1967) Key to Pythium Pringsheim. Mycol Papers 109:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Zagade SN, Deshpande GD, Gawade DB, Wadje AG, Pawar AK (2012) Evaluation of fungicides, bioagents and botanicals against chilli damping off against Pythium ultimum. J Plant Dis Sci 7(1):60–63

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful and sincerely acknowledge Dr. Rajesh Kaushal, Scientist (Soil microbiology Laboratory) Department of Soil Science and Water Management for providing the cultures and formulations of PGPRs (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria) and Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr. YS Parmar UHF Nauni Solan HP for providing the varieties of tomato (Solan Lalima), chilli (DKC 8) and capsicum (Solan Bharpur).

Funding

No funding is provided by any funding agency. The manuscript is a part of Thesis Research work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Pathology, Dr. Yashwant, Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, 173 230, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India

    Deepika Sharma, Harender Raj Gautam & Sunita Chandel

  2. Department of Vegetable Science, Dr. Yashwant, Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, 173 230, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India

    Kuldeep Thakur

  3. Department of Entomology, Dr. Yashwant, Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, 173 230, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India

    Prem Lal Sharma

Authors
  1. Deepika Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Harender Raj Gautam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sunita Chandel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kuldeep Thakur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Prem Lal Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

H.R.G and D.S designed the experiments. D.S carried out the experiments and analyzed the data. S.C, K.T and P.L.S improved the experiments. All authors thus contribute in the research work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deepika Sharma.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Plant guidelines statement

Experimental research and field studies on plants (either cultivated or wild), including the planting material collected comply with the relevant institutional, national and international guidelines and legislation. Seeds of tomato (Solan lalima), chilli (DKC-8) and capsicum (Solan bharpur) have been collected from Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni Solan (HP) as permissions were obtained from the governing body with reference to legislation that permits this.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable as the research work did not contain studies with human participants or animals performed.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 40 KB)

Supplementary file2 (DOCX 43561 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sharma, D., Gautam, H.R., Chandel, S. et al. Seed biopriming with antagonistic microbes and their defense activity against damping-off disease in solanaceous vegetable crops. Indian Phytopathology (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42360-024-00748-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42360-024-00748-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation