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Trichoderma bio-inoculant formulations for enhanced seedling emergence, plant growth and seed yield of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Kandula, Diwakar
Stewart, A
Shah, Anish
Hampton, John
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Conference Contribution - unpublished
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Abstract
In Canterbury, New Zealand, oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) production can be constrained by soil-borne fungal diseases, viz., damping-off and root rot (Rhizoctonia solani) and stem-rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). The ability of a Trichoderma bio-inoculant (TBI) applied in a granule or as a seed-coating formulation to control these pathogens was investigated in two spring sown field experiments at Lincoln (High disease pressure) and Oxford (low disease pressure). TBI granules and seed coat increased (P<0.05) seedling emergence by 38 and 35% at Lincoln and Oxford respectively. At the Lincoln site, both the formulations increased total dry matter and seed yield, the latter by 80%, primarily through a significant reduction in plants infected by S. sclerotiorum. At Oxford, the granule application increased total dry matter and seed yield, the latter by 40%, primarily through plant growth promotion. Seed oil content was significantly (P<0.05) increased at the Lincoln site but not at the Oxford site. The results indicate that the TBI has the potential to be a component of the crop management of oilseed rape in Canterbury.
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