Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth Performance and Anthracnose Disease Suppression in Trichosanthes cucumerina (L) Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Vegetable are essential for optimal health providing vital nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants that protect against chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and contain cancers, Anthracnose and die back as a devastating fungal disease, primarily caused by Colletotrichum species effecting over 80% of vegetables Worldwide. The effect of Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Glomus Clarum and Glomus mosseae on fruits vegetable, like Trichosanthes Cucumerina infected with Colletotrichum pathogen were investigated in pot cultures in Calabar, Nigeria. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological and physiological response of Trichosanthes Cucumerina inoculated with different mycorrhiza fungi with 106ml of Colletotrichum spores suspension as well as assess the severity of Colletotrichum colonization. Study Design: The experiment was a 8x3 factorial which was randomized complete design (RCD) on racks, which comprises of eight treatments with three (3) replication, totally 24 stands. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Calabar, Cross River State the south - south region of Nigeria. Methodology: Trichosanthes Cucumerina plants were inoculated with two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Glomus clarum and Glomus mosseae and further challenged with 106ml of Colletotrichum spores suspension under field conditions. Results: There were significant variations between the host plant species in their response to inoculation with different AMF. The results clearly showed that inoculation with AMF improved the growth of the fruit, vegetables seedlings as indicated in the increase biomass accumulation; dry root weight was higher in Glomus clarum + Glomus mosseae (Gc+Gm) 3.44g, dry leaf weight was also higher in  Glomus clarum + Glomus mosseae (Gc+Gm) 12.09g dry stem weight was significantly higher in Glomus clarum +Glomus moseae (Gc+Gn) 4.64g, dry fruit weight was higher in Glomus clarum + Glomus moseae (Gc+Gm) 20.40g, and root-shoot ratio was higher in Glomus Clarum (Gc) 0.83g. There was a considerable variation and significant decrease in disease seventy (7.36) in the three combinations (Gc+Gm+Col). AMF colonization in snake gourd was highly significant (P < 0.05) in Glomus Clarum + Glomus Mosseae (86.33%). Conclusion: AMF- Inoculated plants can successfully cope with different ecological extremes as bio-control of fungal pathogen and subsequently help in the improvement in dry biomass accumulation is an essential mechanism of disease (Anthracnose) tolerance in mycorrhizal plants.