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Field performance of cucurbit and tomato plants infected with a nonpathogenic mutant of Colletotrichum magna (teleomorph: Glomerella magna; Jekins and Winstead)

Symbiosis
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Abstract

Path-1 is a UV-induced non-pathogenic mutant of a virulent Colletotrichum magna isolate that establishes mutualistic symbioses with cucurbit and tomato species. Under laboratory conditions, this mutualism results in plant growth enhancement, drought tolerance, and disease protection against fungal pathogens. This study focuses on the efficacy of this symbiosis and the symbiotic lifestyle expressed by path-1 under field conditions in the absence of disease stress. The effects of colonization by path-1 on fruit yields and growth was measured in field plots with four cucurbit species including four watermelon cultivars, and two tomato cultivars, over four growing seasons. The persistence of the symbiosis, extent of colonization, and path-1 transmission were also assessed. Yields from path-1 infected plants were equivalent to or greater than yields from non-inoculated control plants and path-1 systemically colonized plants throughout each growing season. Path-1 also increased the growth rates of tomato plants and was not transmitted to uncolonized plants. The results indicate that there are no metabolic costs of this symbiosis and the symbiosis is maintained under field conditions.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Field performance of cucurbit and tomato plants infected with a nonpathogenic mutant of Colletotrichum magna (teleomorph: Glomerella magna; Jekins and Winstead)
Series title Symbiosis
Volume 32
Issue 1
Year Published 2002
Language English
Contributing office(s) Western Fisheries Research Center
Description 16 p.
First page 55
Last page 70
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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