Trichoderma atroviride isolates improve plant growth of Miscanthus x giganteus
Trichoderma atroviride isolates improve plant growth of Miscanthus x giganteus
Kandula, Diwakar R. W. Teixiera, C. Littlejohn, C. P. Wratten, Stephen D. Hampton, John G.
Kandula, Diwakar R. W.
Teixiera, C.
Littlejohn, C. P.
Wratten, Stephen D.
Hampton, John G.
Date
2015-10
Type
Conference Contribution - published
Collections
Fields of Research
Abstract
Japanese tall grass (Miscanthus x giganteus) is a perennial sterile hybrid vegetatively propagated rhizomatous grass. This grass is being assessed for its potential use as a shelterbelt on irrigated dairy farms in New Zealand. Roots of young plants were susceptible to the soil-borne root rot pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. The effect of four Trichoderma atroviride isolates (LU132, LU140, LU584 & LU633) individually and as a mixture) on plant growth in a soil naturally infested with R. solani was investigated in a glasshouse experiment using plants propagated by tissue culture. Two T. atroviride isolates significantly (P<0.05) increased fresh plant weight (LU584 by 31% and LU132 by 44%) over that of the untreated control, but the other two isolates or the mixture of isolates did not. Whether this response came from control of R. solani, plant growth promotion, or a combination of both was not determined.