Application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria PGPR in combination with a mild strain of Cucumber mosaic virus CMV associated with viral satellite RNAs to enhance growth and protection against a virulent strain of CMV in tomato
Dashti, N.H.; Ali, N.Y.; Cherian, V.M.; Montasser, M.S.
Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 34(2): 177-186
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0706-0661
DOI: 10.1080/07060661.2012.685495
Accession: 036478552
An indigenous strain of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) associated with a naturally occurring benign viral satellite RNA (345 bp long), referred to as CMV-KU1, although effective as a protective biocontrol agent against the damaging effects of the virulent CMV-16 strain, produced negative side-effects such as mild stunting, vigour reduction and about 2% yield loss in tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) plants. The efficacy of using a mixture of two plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas rhizophilia, to compensate for vegetative and yield loss caused by CMV-KU1 in tomato plants, was evaluated in greenhouse experiments. In addition to promoting plant growth, PGPRs are known to enhance systemic defences in plants against foliar pathogens such as viruses that attack tissues distant to PGPR sphere of activity. The use of PGPR and CMV-KU1 together successfully promoted vegetative growth and fruit yield in tomato plants to values equivalent to that of .">