Impact of Collembola on the Winter Wheat Growth in Soil Infected by Soil-Borne Pathogenic Fungi
The activity of some soil organisms can significantly influence the growth of plants. One of the more common are Collembola, which play an important role in suppressing soil-borne pathogens such as <i>Fusarium</i> spp. Here, <i>Folsomia candida</i> was taken for laboratory st...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1599 |
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| author | Iwona Gruss Jacek Twardowski Krzysztof Matkowski Marta Jurga |
| author_facet | Iwona Gruss Jacek Twardowski Krzysztof Matkowski Marta Jurga |
| author_sort | Iwona Gruss |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The activity of some soil organisms can significantly influence the growth of plants. One of the more common are Collembola, which play an important role in suppressing soil-borne pathogens such as <i>Fusarium</i> spp. Here, <i>Folsomia candida</i> was taken for laboratory studies. The aim of the study was to assess whether springtails influence the growth of wheat and pea plants. The purpose was also to evaluate whether Collembola will reduce the occurrence of fungal diseases, presumably by feeding on fungi. The factors tested were (1) wheat grown individually or in the mixture with pea; (2) number of Collembola; and (3) the pathogenic presence of the plant fungus <i>Fusarium culmorum</i>. The experiment was carried out in four replicates for each treatment in two series. The soil used for the test was a mixture of field soil, sand, and peat. The following analyses were performed: measuring plant growth and decomposition rate, assessment of plant infection, and assessment of <i>F. culmorum</i> in springtails bodies. There was no effect of <i>F. culmorum</i> infection on plant growth, although the pathogen was present in the root neck of the plants incubated with this fungus. Collembola decreased the number of fungus colonies isolated from plants by about 45% in comparison to pots incubated without these organisms. The decomposition of plant biomass was accelerated by springtails by about 7% in the pots with moderate Collembola number. However, this was not related to improved plant growth. Additionally, <i>F. culmorum</i> was isolated from the bodies of Collembola, indicating its ability to feed on this fungus. To conclude, it was found that Collembola can decrease pathogenic fungal growth. This issue needs further studies in relation to other plants and fungus species, as well to study observed effects in the field conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:22:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-327f613aa2514fda9e47b3327071a141 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:22:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-327f613aa2514fda9e47b3327071a1412023-11-30T22:38:34ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-07-01127159910.3390/agronomy12071599Impact of Collembola on the Winter Wheat Growth in Soil Infected by Soil-Borne Pathogenic FungiIwona Gruss0Jacek Twardowski1Krzysztof Matkowski2Marta Jurga3Department of Plant Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq. 24a, 50-363 Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Plant Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq. 24a, 50-363 Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Plant Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq. 24a, 50-363 Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Plant Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq. 24a, 50-363 Wroclaw, PolandThe activity of some soil organisms can significantly influence the growth of plants. One of the more common are Collembola, which play an important role in suppressing soil-borne pathogens such as <i>Fusarium</i> spp. Here, <i>Folsomia candida</i> was taken for laboratory studies. The aim of the study was to assess whether springtails influence the growth of wheat and pea plants. The purpose was also to evaluate whether Collembola will reduce the occurrence of fungal diseases, presumably by feeding on fungi. The factors tested were (1) wheat grown individually or in the mixture with pea; (2) number of Collembola; and (3) the pathogenic presence of the plant fungus <i>Fusarium culmorum</i>. The experiment was carried out in four replicates for each treatment in two series. The soil used for the test was a mixture of field soil, sand, and peat. The following analyses were performed: measuring plant growth and decomposition rate, assessment of plant infection, and assessment of <i>F. culmorum</i> in springtails bodies. There was no effect of <i>F. culmorum</i> infection on plant growth, although the pathogen was present in the root neck of the plants incubated with this fungus. Collembola decreased the number of fungus colonies isolated from plants by about 45% in comparison to pots incubated without these organisms. The decomposition of plant biomass was accelerated by springtails by about 7% in the pots with moderate Collembola number. However, this was not related to improved plant growth. Additionally, <i>F. culmorum</i> was isolated from the bodies of Collembola, indicating its ability to feed on this fungus. To conclude, it was found that Collembola can decrease pathogenic fungal growth. This issue needs further studies in relation to other plants and fungus species, as well to study observed effects in the field conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1599springtails<i>Folsomia candida</i>wheatpea<i>Fusarium culmorum</i>interactions |
| spellingShingle | Iwona Gruss Jacek Twardowski Krzysztof Matkowski Marta Jurga Impact of Collembola on the Winter Wheat Growth in Soil Infected by Soil-Borne Pathogenic Fungi Agronomy springtails <i>Folsomia candida</i> wheat pea <i>Fusarium culmorum</i> interactions |
| title | Impact of Collembola on the Winter Wheat Growth in Soil Infected by Soil-Borne Pathogenic Fungi |
| title_full | Impact of Collembola on the Winter Wheat Growth in Soil Infected by Soil-Borne Pathogenic Fungi |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Collembola on the Winter Wheat Growth in Soil Infected by Soil-Borne Pathogenic Fungi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Collembola on the Winter Wheat Growth in Soil Infected by Soil-Borne Pathogenic Fungi |
| title_short | Impact of Collembola on the Winter Wheat Growth in Soil Infected by Soil-Borne Pathogenic Fungi |
| title_sort | impact of collembola on the winter wheat growth in soil infected by soil borne pathogenic fungi |
| topic | springtails <i>Folsomia candida</i> wheat pea <i>Fusarium culmorum</i> interactions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1599 |
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