Evaluating the Utility of <i>Simplicillium lanosoniveum</i>, a Hyperparasitic Fungus of <i>Puccinia graminis</i> f. sp. <i>tritici</i>, as a Biological Control Agent against Wheat Stem Rust

oleh: Binbin Si, Hui Wang, Jiaming Bai, Yuzhen Zhang, Yuanyin Cao

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-12-01

Deskripsi

Wheat stem rust is one of the wheat diseases caused by <i>Puccinia graminis</i> Pers. f. sp. <i>tritici (Pgt)</i>. This disease has been responsible for major losses to wheat production worldwide. Currently used methods for controlling this disease include fungicides, the breeding of stem rust-resistant cultivars, and preventive agricultural measures. However, the excessive use of fungicides can have various deleterious effects on the environment. A hyperparasitic fungus with white mycelia and oval conidia, <i>Simplicillium lanosoniveum</i>, was isolated from the urediniospores of <i>Pgt</i>. When <i>Pgt</i>-infected wheat leaves were inoculation with isolates of <i>S. lanosoniveum</i>, it was found that <i>S. lanosoniveum</i> inoculation inhibited the production and germination of urediniospores, suggesting that <i>S. lanosoniveum</i> could inhibit the growth and spread of <i>Pgt</i>. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that <i>S. lanosoniveum</i> could inactivate the urediniospores by inducing structural damage. Overall, findings indicate that <i>S. lanosoniveum</i> might provide an effective biological agent for the control of <i>Pgt</i>.