Biological Induction of Metabolic Defense Mechanisms Against Wheat Yellow Rust Using Bacterial and Organic Biocontrol Agents

Elkhwaga, Amal A.; Fattouh, Heba M.; Draz, Ibrahim S.; Abdelmaksoud, Hesham M.; Mostafa, Fatma A.; Abdelghany, Rady E.

doi:10.21608/ejp.2023.337102

Biological Induction of Metabolic Defense Mechanisms Against Wheat Yellow Rust Using Bacterial and Organic Biocontrol Agents

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt.

² Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, 12619, Giza, Egypt.

³ Wheat Disease Research Department, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, 12619 Giza, Egypt

⁴ Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, 12619 Giza, Egypt.

⁵ Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt

10.21608/ejp.2023.337102

Abstract

Six biocontrol agents, including bacterial antagonists; Pseudomonas fluorescens (strain OR485143), Arthrospira platensis and Nostoc muscorum, as well as organic compounds; fulvic acid, cinnamic acid and 8-Quinolinol (8-hydroxyquinoline) were tested as biological inducers against yellow rust of wheat (cv. Gemmeiza-11). In two field trials, the six biological treatments each proved to be an effective antifungal agent for inducing an adequate level of resistance against wheat yellow rust. The pre-infection application resulted in a lower host response to moderate susceptibility, as well as a significant decrease in average coefficient of infection on adult plants, and subsequently increased grain yield components. The most effective treatment was 8-Quinolinol, which offered a good level of disease protection (reached 92% efficacy), followed by spraying of cinnamic acid, A. platensis and N. muscorum (89.33% efficacy each), in comparison with the fungicide propiconazole 25% (94.66% efficacy). Meanwhile, P. fluorescens and fulvic acid offered relatively low protection of 84% each. Metabolic assay of wheat leaves treated with the six biological inducers resulted in a significant accumulation of total phenolic content and an increase in the antioxidant enzymatic activity of POX and PPO enzymes. This study provides profitable results on the capability use of the tested biological agents to induce an adequate level of bioprotective effect against wheat yellow rust, as a safe and eco-friendly alternative to the synthetic fungicide application.

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