Bioprotection of olive tree from Verticillium wilt by autochthonous endomycorrhizal fungi

The present work aimed to assess the efficacy of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi consortium Rhizolive consortium in alleviating Verticillium wilt symptoms in olive tree. Olive plants cultivar Picholine Marocaine were inoculated for three months with Rhizolive consortium and then infected with Verticillium dahliae pathogen. Our results showed that Rhizolive consortium inoculation highly improved mycorrhizal intensity, with dominance of arbuscular type, in the presence of the pathogen. In addition, Rhizolive consortium significantly reduced the dwarfing index and leaf alteration index in olive plants inoculated by V. dahliae. The alleviation potential of Rhizolive consortium was more evident with time. Mycorrhizal colonization reduced the V. dahliae percentage in the roots and stems of olive plants. The study reveals a biostimulation role of Rhizolive consortium by improving root colonization and enhancing disease tolerance in olive tree.