Effects of <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> Inoculum on the Composting of Cabbage Wastes and the Endophytic Activities of the Composted Material on Tomatoes and Red Spider Mite Infestation
Globally, fungal inocula are being explored as agents for the optimization of composting processes. This research primarily evaluates the effects of inoculating organic vegetable heaps with the entomopathogenic fungus <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> (Hypocreales)...
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/6/1184 |
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| author | Nomfusi Ntsobi Morris Fanadzo Marilize Le Roes-Hill Felix Nchu |
| author_facet | Nomfusi Ntsobi Morris Fanadzo Marilize Le Roes-Hill Felix Nchu |
| author_sort | Nomfusi Ntsobi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Globally, fungal inocula are being explored as agents for the optimization of composting processes. This research primarily evaluates the effects of inoculating organic vegetable heaps with the entomopathogenic fungus <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> (Hypocreales) on the biophysicochemical properties of the end-product of composting. Six heaps of fresh cabbage (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>capitata</i>) waste were inoculated with <i>C. rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> conidia and another six were not exposed to the fungus. The composted materials from the fungus- and control-treated heaps were subsequently used as a medium to cultivate tomatoes (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>). The biophysicochemical characteristics of the composted materials were also assessed after composting. In addition, the protective effect of the fungal inoculum against red spider mite (<i>Tetranychus urticae</i>) infestations in the tomatoes was evaluated through the determination of conidial colonization of the plant tissue and the number of plants infested by the insect. Furthermore, phytotoxicity tests were carried out post experiment. There were few significant variations (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in heap temperature or moisture level between treatments based on the weekly data. We found no significant differences in the levels of compost macronutrient and micronutrient constituents. Remarkably, the composted materials, when incorporated into a growth medium from fungus-treated heaps, induced a 100% endophytic tissue colonization in cultivated tomato plants. While fewer red spider mite infestations were observed in tomato plants grown in composted materials from fungus-treated heaps, the difference was not significant (χ<sup>2</sup> = 0.96 and <i>p</i> = 0.32). The fungal treatment yielded composted materials that significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) enhanced tomato seed germination, and based on the phytotoxicity test, the composted samples from the heaps exposed to the <i>C. rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> inoculum were not toxic to tomato seeds and seedlings. In conclusion, this study showed that <i>C. rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> improved the quality of composted materials in terms of fungal endophytism and seed germination. |
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| id | doaj.art-015e8105e6c04b8fa40ed0f3a7582e49 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-015e8105e6c04b8fa40ed0f3a7582e492023-11-21T22:09:59ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-05-0196118410.3390/microorganisms9061184Effects of <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> Inoculum on the Composting of Cabbage Wastes and the Endophytic Activities of the Composted Material on Tomatoes and Red Spider Mite InfestationNomfusi Ntsobi0Morris Fanadzo1Marilize Le Roes-Hill2Felix Nchu3Department of Agriculture, Wellington Campus, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Jan Van Riebeeck Street, Private Bag X8, Wellington 7654, South AfricaDepartment of Agriculture, Wellington Campus, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Jan Van Riebeeck Street, Private Bag X8, Wellington 7654, South AfricaApplied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute, Bellville Campus, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Symphony Way, P.O. Box 1906, Bellville 7535, South AfricaDepartment of Horticultural Sciences, Bellville Campus, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Symphony Way, P.O. Box 1906, Bellville 7535, South AfricaGlobally, fungal inocula are being explored as agents for the optimization of composting processes. This research primarily evaluates the effects of inoculating organic vegetable heaps with the entomopathogenic fungus <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> (Hypocreales) on the biophysicochemical properties of the end-product of composting. Six heaps of fresh cabbage (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>capitata</i>) waste were inoculated with <i>C. rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> conidia and another six were not exposed to the fungus. The composted materials from the fungus- and control-treated heaps were subsequently used as a medium to cultivate tomatoes (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>). The biophysicochemical characteristics of the composted materials were also assessed after composting. In addition, the protective effect of the fungal inoculum against red spider mite (<i>Tetranychus urticae</i>) infestations in the tomatoes was evaluated through the determination of conidial colonization of the plant tissue and the number of plants infested by the insect. Furthermore, phytotoxicity tests were carried out post experiment. There were few significant variations (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in heap temperature or moisture level between treatments based on the weekly data. We found no significant differences in the levels of compost macronutrient and micronutrient constituents. Remarkably, the composted materials, when incorporated into a growth medium from fungus-treated heaps, induced a 100% endophytic tissue colonization in cultivated tomato plants. While fewer red spider mite infestations were observed in tomato plants grown in composted materials from fungus-treated heaps, the difference was not significant (χ<sup>2</sup> = 0.96 and <i>p</i> = 0.32). The fungal treatment yielded composted materials that significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) enhanced tomato seed germination, and based on the phytotoxicity test, the composted samples from the heaps exposed to the <i>C. rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> inoculum were not toxic to tomato seeds and seedlings. In conclusion, this study showed that <i>C. rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> improved the quality of composted materials in terms of fungal endophytism and seed germination.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/6/1184compostingorganic vegetable wastesinoculation<i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i>tissue nutrient contenttoxicity |
| spellingShingle | Nomfusi Ntsobi Morris Fanadzo Marilize Le Roes-Hill Felix Nchu Effects of <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> Inoculum on the Composting of Cabbage Wastes and the Endophytic Activities of the Composted Material on Tomatoes and Red Spider Mite Infestation Microorganisms composting organic vegetable wastes inoculation <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> tissue nutrient content toxicity |
| title | Effects of <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> Inoculum on the Composting of Cabbage Wastes and the Endophytic Activities of the Composted Material on Tomatoes and Red Spider Mite Infestation |
| title_full | Effects of <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> Inoculum on the Composting of Cabbage Wastes and the Endophytic Activities of the Composted Material on Tomatoes and Red Spider Mite Infestation |
| title_fullStr | Effects of <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> Inoculum on the Composting of Cabbage Wastes and the Endophytic Activities of the Composted Material on Tomatoes and Red Spider Mite Infestation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> Inoculum on the Composting of Cabbage Wastes and the Endophytic Activities of the Composted Material on Tomatoes and Red Spider Mite Infestation |
| title_short | Effects of <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> Inoculum on the Composting of Cabbage Wastes and the Endophytic Activities of the Composted Material on Tomatoes and Red Spider Mite Infestation |
| title_sort | effects of i clonostachys rosea i f i catenula i inoculum on the composting of cabbage wastes and the endophytic activities of the composted material on tomatoes and red spider mite infestation |
| topic | composting organic vegetable wastes inoculation <i>Clonostachys rosea</i> f. <i>catenula</i> tissue nutrient content toxicity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/6/1184 |
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