Beneficial Soil Microbes Negatively Affect Spider Mites and Aphids in Pepper
Beneficial soil microbes have long been recognized for their ability to improve plant growth, to antagonize pathogens and to prime plants against biotic stressors. Nevertheless, their ability to enhance plant resistance against arthropod pests remains largely unexplored, especially in crop plants su...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/9/1831 |
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| author | Maria L. Pappas Konstantinos Samaras Ioannis Koufakis George D. Broufas |
| author_facet | Maria L. Pappas Konstantinos Samaras Ioannis Koufakis George D. Broufas |
| author_sort | Maria L. Pappas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Beneficial soil microbes have long been recognized for their ability to improve plant growth, to antagonize pathogens and to prime plants against biotic stressors. Nevertheless, their ability to enhance plant resistance against arthropod pests remains largely unexplored, especially in crop plants such as pepper. Herein, we assessed the effects of several fungal and bacterial species/strains applied in the soil on the performance of key pests of pepper plants. Specifically, we recorded the impact of pepper inoculation with commercial strains of beneficial bacteria (<i>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i> and <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp.) as well as fungi (<i>Trichoderma</i> spp. and <i>Cordyceps fumosorosea</i>) on the population growth of the green peach aphid, <i>Myzus persicae</i>, and the two-spotted spider mite, <i>Tetranychus urticae</i>. Furthermore, we recorded the effects of microbial inoculation on plant growth parameters, such as stem and root weight. We found that both pests can be negatively affected by microbial inoculation: spider mites laid up to 40% fewer eggs, and the number of aphids were up to 50% less on pepper-inoculated plants, depending on the microbe. We also recorded a variation among the tested microbes in their impact on herbivore performance, but no significant effects were found on plant biomass. Our results add to the growing literature that beneficial soil microbes may be capable of exerting biocontrol capabilities against aboveground herbivorous pests possibly, among other means, via the elicitation of plant defense responses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:59:22Z |
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| id | doaj.art-b63b9f1271e94bf49c6a3b8737089a5c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:59:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-b63b9f1271e94bf49c6a3b8737089a5c2023-11-22T11:39:02ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-09-01119183110.3390/agronomy11091831Beneficial Soil Microbes Negatively Affect Spider Mites and Aphids in PepperMaria L. Pappas0Konstantinos Samaras1Ioannis Koufakis2George D. Broufas3Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology & Zoology, Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, 68200 Orestiada, GreeceLaboratory of Agricultural Entomology & Zoology, Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, 68200 Orestiada, GreeceLaboratory of Agricultural Entomology & Zoology, Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, 68200 Orestiada, GreeceLaboratory of Agricultural Entomology & Zoology, Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, 68200 Orestiada, GreeceBeneficial soil microbes have long been recognized for their ability to improve plant growth, to antagonize pathogens and to prime plants against biotic stressors. Nevertheless, their ability to enhance plant resistance against arthropod pests remains largely unexplored, especially in crop plants such as pepper. Herein, we assessed the effects of several fungal and bacterial species/strains applied in the soil on the performance of key pests of pepper plants. Specifically, we recorded the impact of pepper inoculation with commercial strains of beneficial bacteria (<i>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i> and <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp.) as well as fungi (<i>Trichoderma</i> spp. and <i>Cordyceps fumosorosea</i>) on the population growth of the green peach aphid, <i>Myzus persicae</i>, and the two-spotted spider mite, <i>Tetranychus urticae</i>. Furthermore, we recorded the effects of microbial inoculation on plant growth parameters, such as stem and root weight. We found that both pests can be negatively affected by microbial inoculation: spider mites laid up to 40% fewer eggs, and the number of aphids were up to 50% less on pepper-inoculated plants, depending on the microbe. We also recorded a variation among the tested microbes in their impact on herbivore performance, but no significant effects were found on plant biomass. Our results add to the growing literature that beneficial soil microbes may be capable of exerting biocontrol capabilities against aboveground herbivorous pests possibly, among other means, via the elicitation of plant defense responses.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/9/1831aphidsbiological controlendophytes<i>Myzus persicae</i>pepper<i>Tetranychus urticae</i> |
| spellingShingle | Maria L. Pappas Konstantinos Samaras Ioannis Koufakis George D. Broufas Beneficial Soil Microbes Negatively Affect Spider Mites and Aphids in Pepper Agronomy aphids biological control endophytes <i>Myzus persicae</i> pepper <i>Tetranychus urticae</i> |
| title | Beneficial Soil Microbes Negatively Affect Spider Mites and Aphids in Pepper |
| title_full | Beneficial Soil Microbes Negatively Affect Spider Mites and Aphids in Pepper |
| title_fullStr | Beneficial Soil Microbes Negatively Affect Spider Mites and Aphids in Pepper |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beneficial Soil Microbes Negatively Affect Spider Mites and Aphids in Pepper |
| title_short | Beneficial Soil Microbes Negatively Affect Spider Mites and Aphids in Pepper |
| title_sort | beneficial soil microbes negatively affect spider mites and aphids in pepper |
| topic | aphids biological control endophytes <i>Myzus persicae</i> pepper <i>Tetranychus urticae</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/9/1831 |
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