The Microflora of Unsuberized Roots of Eucalyptus calophylla R.Br. And Eucalyptus marginata Donn ex Sm. Seedlings Grown in Soil Suppressive and Conducive to Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. I. Rhizosphere Bacteria, Actinomycetes and Fungi

1979 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Malajczuk ◽  
AJ Mccomb

An investigation was made of the microflora associated with unsuberized roots of Eucalyptus marginata and Eucalyptus calophylla raised in different soils. The studies were made for 'conducive' lateritic soil (in which E. marginata is susceptible to infection by Phytophthora cinnamomi but E. Calophylla is resistant); and in 'suppressive' loam soil in which both eucalypt species are unaffected by the pathogen. Lateritic soil in some cases contained natural infection of P. cinnamomi. Rhizospheres of both species contained larger microflora populations (expressed as numbers per g of root) than in the soils. In general, the population of rhizosphere microflora was greater for E. Marginata than E. calophylla seedlings in the uninfected lateritic soil. Qualitative differences were also recorded in populations of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi, and in particular, fluorescent pseudomonads were more numerous in the rhizosphere of E. marginata seedlings. Eucalypt seedlings raised in loam soil harboured greater microbial populations than in lateritic soil. This could in part be attributed to the higher nutrient and organic matter status of the loam. E. marginata had a greater total rhizosphere population, but actinomycetes were more numerous in the rhizosphere of E. calophylla. Qualitative differences in populations of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi were also noted. In naturally infected lateritic soil the microflora populations were invariably lower than for the other soils. When the counts of bacteria and actinomycetes were expressed as numbers per mm2 of root surface, E. calophylla had a significantly higher number of propagules per unit area than E. marginata. The loam soil was an exception; there E. marginata had three times as many bacteria per unit area of the root surface as E. calophylla. It is suggested that the microflora population differences recorded for the two eucalypts in lateritic soil may contribute to the differential susceptibility of species to infection by P. cinnamomi; and that the higher populations of microflora in the loam soil contribute to the suppression of P. Cinnamomi in that soil.

1977 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 483 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Malajczuk ◽  
AJ Mccomb ◽  
CA Parker

On lateritic podzolic soils in Western Australia Eucalyptus calophylla is resistant to Phytophthora cinnamomi whereas Eucalyptus marginata is susceptible and eventually killed by the pathogen. On loam soils both eucalypts are resistant. Possible mechanisms for resistance of E. calophylla in lateritic soil and the inhibitory action of loam soils were investigated. Aseptically raised eucalypt seedlings succumbed to infection in liquid culture tubes. The mechanism of infection was compared by light and electron microscopy which showed similar fungal invasion and penetration into roots of both eucalypt species. Vegetative hyphae initially penetrated intercellularly and proliferated rapidly within cortical and stelar tissue. Intracellular invasion of these tissues occurred 48hr after initial infection through dissolution of the host cell wall. Chlamydospores were formed within a number of cortical cells. Unsuberized roots of mature trees produced aseptically showed reactions to invasion similar to those of the eucalypt seedling roots. Suberized roots were not invaded. The addition of small quantities of lateritic soil to sterile sand so as to introduce soil micro-organisms without altering the chemical and physical status of the sand, and subsequent inoculation of the sand with P.cinnamomi, resulted in a reduction of root damage on both eucalypts when compared with seedlings raised in sterile sand. Roots of E.calophylla were less severely damaged than those of E.marginata. The addition of small quantities of loam soil significantly reduced root damage in seedlings of both species. These results parallel both pot experiments and field observations, and suggest that microorganisms of the rhizosphere may be an important factor in the resistance of E.calophylla to infection, and in the inhibitory effect of loam soil on P.cinnamomi.


1987 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 653 ◽  
Author(s):  
DS Crombie ◽  
JT Tippett ◽  
DJ Gorddard

Roots were pruned from jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn ex Smith) saplings to simulate the effects of root loss induced by Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Stomatal conductance was more sensitive to root loss than was leaf water potential. Stomatal conductances of trees on moist soils declined when more than 50% of roots were removed but were more variable and were affected more severely by root pruning when soils were dry. Predawn leaf water potentials were unaffected by removal of up to 80% of roots irrespective of whether surface soils were dry or moist. The effects of root pruning on midday water potentials were variable especially when soils were dry. Leaf shedding and efficient stornatal closure prevented severe water stress developing in leaves until nearly 90% of the roots had been removed. It is suggested that destruction of the deep 'sinker' roots by P. cinnamomi has greater effects on jarrah's water relations during summer than does loss of shallow roots. The deep roots are especially important as jarrah grows on highly developed lateritic soil profiles.


1987 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 567 ◽  
Author(s):  
DIL Murray

Soil dilution plate techniques were used to compare the numbers of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi in the rhizospheres of Acacia pulchella, Banksia grandis and Eucalyptus marginata (jarrah). The most frequently isolated microorganisms and those detected in significantly different numbers in the rhizospheres of the three species were tested for their effects on sporangium production, zoospore discharge, zoospore germination and mycelial growth of the jarrah dieback pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. The total population of fungi in rhizosphere soil from B. grandis was much greater than that found in the rhizospheres of the other two species while the convesse was true for bacteria and actinomycetes, of which the largest populations were associated with A. pulchella. Penicillium spinulosum outnum- bered the combined population of other fungi in the Banksia rhizosphere but formed a much smaller proportion of the jarrah and Acacia rhizosphere microfloras, particularly the latter. P. spinulosum had no effect on mycelial growth or zoospore discharge in P. cinnamomi; it had some ability to stimulete sporangium production and, although it partly suppressed spore germination, the inhibitory effect was less pronounced than that noted for most other microorganisms. In contrast, microorganisms which strongly inhibited mycelial growth, zoospore discharge and germination represented a greater proportion of the Acacia rhizosphere microflora compared with the other microfloras, especially that of B. grandis. While some actinornycetes and fungi produced antibiotics that inhibited vegetative growth of P. cinnamomi in dual cultures, mycelial inhibition was often attributable to nutrient depletion of agar media by the test microorganisms. Similarly, nutrient deprivation resulting from microbial competition for substrates was also considered to be the stimulus for sporangium production in liquid media. The results are discussed in relation to previously reported suppression of P. cinnamomi in forest soils beneath stands of A. pulchella and the associated implications of this for biological control of jarrah dieback.


1979 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 255 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Malajczuk

Mycorrhizal root development was more frequent in Eucalyptus calophylla than in Eucalyptus marginata in field and pot samples of soil conductive to Phytophthora cinnamomi. Morphologically different types of mycorrhizas were also observed in the two species, which suggested preferential stimulation of mycorrhizal fungi, and this was supported by cross-inoculation experiments with fungal symbionts isolated from mycorrhizal roots and from basidiomycete sporophores. Isolation of bacteria from mycorrhizal roots, and low power electron microscope study of these roots, indicated a significant mycorrhizosphere effect. Populations of bacteria varied quantitatively and qualitatively for different mycorrhizal roots. In suppressive soil few mycorrhizal roots were formed in either species. It is suggested that the different types of mycorrhizal roots and their associated bacterial microflora may contribute to differential susceptibility of the two species to infection by P. cinnamomi in conducive soil.


Plant Disease ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Treena I. Burgess ◽  
Janet L. Webster ◽  
Juanita A. Ciampini ◽  
Diane White ◽  
Giles E. StJ. Hardy ◽  
...  

For 30 years, large-scale aerial photography has been used to map the extent of Phytophthora dieback disease in native forests in the southwest of Western Australia, with validation of the observations involving routine testing of soil and root samples for the presence of Phytophthora cinnamomi. In addition to P. cinnamomi, six morpho-species have been identified using this technique: P. citricola, P. megasperma, P. cryptogea, P. drechsleri, P. nicotianae, and P. boehmeriae. In recent years, many new Phytophthora species have been described worldwide, often with similar morphology to existing species; thus, as many of the isolates collected in Western Australia have been difficult to identify based on morphology, molecular identification of the morpho-species is required. Based on amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA gene, sequence data of more than 230 isolates were compared with those of existing species and undescribed taxa. P. inundata, P. asparagi, P. taxon PgChlamydo, P. taxon personii, and P. taxon niederhauserii were identified based on sequence data. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that nine potentially new and undescribed taxa can be distinguished. Several of the new taxa are morphologically indistinguishable from species such as P. citricola, P. drechsleri, and P. megasperma. In some cases, the new taxa are closely related to species with similar morphology (e.g., P.sp.4 and P. citricola). However, the DNA sequences of other new taxa such as P.sp.3 and P.sp.9 show that they are not closely related to morphologically similar species P. drechsleri and P. megasperma, respectively. Most of the new taxa have been associated with dying Banksia spp., while P.sp.2 and P.sp.4 have also been isolated from dying Eucalyptus marginata (jarrah). Some taxa (P.sp.3, 6, and 7) appear to have limited distribution, while others like P.sp.4 are widespread.


1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 721 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Dudzinski ◽  
KM Old ◽  
RJ Gibbs

Forty-two isolates of Phytophthora cinnamomi were obtained from native vegetation and horticultural crops within Australia. They represented a broad spectrum of geographical and host origins, both mating types, and all identified Australian isozyme genotypes. All isolates were tested for their pathogenicity to a single clone of Eucalyptus marginata by inoculation of soil in which plants were growing. Differences in pathogenicity were expressed as extent of root damage, reduction of plant growth, period to first visible disease symptoms and time to plant death. Significant variation between isolates was detected. Pathogenicity was unrelated to mating type and isozyme properties. A subset of these 42 isolates encompassing a range of virulence gave generally consistent rankings for pathogenicity variates when re-inoculated twice into plants derived from the original clone. This suggests that pathogenicity is a relatively stable characteristic. Detection of differences in susceptibility to P. cinnamomi between three selected E. marginata. clones was influenced by the pathogenicity of isolates. Only the more pathogenic isolates were useful in this regard. Seedling stems of five eucalypt species were inoculated with virulent and less virulent isolates of P. cinnamomi. This method detected variation in both pathogenicity in the fungus and susceptibility in the host species. Variation in pathogenicity within Australian populations of P. cinnamomi should be taken into account by the choice of isolates of proven virulence when selecting for resistance in trees and other woody hosts.


2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. McDougall ◽  
G. E. St J. Hardy ◽  
R. J. Hobbs

The spatial distribution of Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands at seven dieback sites in the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn. ex Smith) forest of Western Australia was determined by the following two baiting techniques: in situ baiting with live Banksia grandis Willd. seedlings and ex situ baiting of sampled soil and root material. Four areas within each site were sampled, reflecting dieback age and position in the landscape. Approximate dieback ages of 50, 20 and 5 years were determined by aerial photography. The 50-year-old age class was divided into wet valley floor and dry gravelly slope. Phytophthora cinnamomi was recovered most frequently from the 5-year-old (dieback fronts) and wet 50-year-old areas by both baiting techniques. It was recovered from more than twice as many areas and about five times as many samples when in situ B. grandis baits were used compared with ex situ soil and root baiting. Almost all recoveries from in situ baits were made between October and December. From both methods, it appears that P. cinnamomi has a patchy distribution within dieback sites in the northern jarrah forest. It is easily detected only on dieback fronts and wet valley floors. On dry gravelly sites affected 20 years or more ago, P. cinnamomi is rare and may even be absent at some sites. This makes confident detection of the pathogen difficult. In situ baiting at least allows a temporal component to the sampling and will be a useful method of detection in areas where P. cinnamomi is rare or transient.


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