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Identification of two Fusarium- isolates and their crude toxin allelopathic effect on Cucumis melo seedlings.

ZHAO Juan1, XUE Quan-hong2, DU Jun-zhi3, CHEN Jiao-jiao2   

  1. (1College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; 2College of Natural Resources Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; 3College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China)
  • Online:2013-01-18 Published:2013-01-18

Abstract: Eight fungi isolates were obtained from Fusarium-infected Cucumis melo (melon) plants and their rhizosphere soils. Taking melon cultivar ‘Xitian 1’ as test material, the reinoculation and seed germination experiments were conducted to investigate the pathogenicity and growth inhibition effect of these fungi isolates on melon. Through the determination of the induced enzyme activities, resistant substance contents, and cell membrane permeability of potted melon roots, the allelopathic effect of the crude toxins of two harmful fungi was studied, and according to the morphological characteristics and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequencing, the two harmful fungi were identified. The crude toxins of the two harmful fungi TF and HF had strong inhibition effects on the germination and growth of the melon seeds. The MDA and soluble protein contents and the cell membrane permeability of the  ‘Xitian 1’ seedlings roots all increased, among which, the MDA content and cell membrane permeability  increased by 108.6% and 40.6%, respectively when treated with the stock solution of TF toxin,  compared with the control. The crude toxins of the two harmful fungi improved the induced enzyme activities of the melon roots, with the increment of the PAL and POD activities under the treatment of 10-fold dilution of TF crude toxin increased by 25.6% and 23.2%, respectively. When treated with the stock solution of HF toxin, the PAL activity  significantly increased by 30.0%. The two harmful fungi TF and HF were primarily identified as Fusarium equisti and F. proliferatum, respectively. This study showed that the two Fusarium -isolates could not infect melon via re-inoculation, but could negatively affect the melon’s normal growth and normal physiological and biochemical metabolism via toxins excretion, and in the meantime, improve the root protective enzyme activities, with the effects of both benefit and harmfulness on melon plants. The allelopathic hazard of the crude toxins of the isolates could be one of the main causes of continuous cropping obstacle of melon.