Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce development of pea root-rot caused by Aphanomyces euteiches using oospores as pathogen inoculum

The effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)-fungi Glomus intraradices and Glomus claroideum on pea root-rot development caused by the pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches were investigated in a greenhouse pot-experiment, over the course of three harvests, using oospores as pathogen inoculum. Signature whole cell fatty acids 16:1omega5c and 14:1omega9 were used to quantify AM-fungi and A. euteiches, respectively in both roots and soil. Disease incidence was reduced in AM plants, though this effect was more pronounced in plants with G. intraradices than plants with G. claroideum, and corresponded with a greater mycorrhiza development, both intra- and extra radical in plants with G. intraradices than with G. claroideum. At the final harvest, percentage of root length with oospores was similar in roots of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Despite the fact that pea root-rot development was only slightly lower in mycorrhizal plants compared to that of non-mycorrhizal plants, in terms of shoot growth and disease severity, mycorrhizal plants suffered less. This suggests a possible mycorrhiza-induced tolerance against pea root-rot. Furthermore, the degree of tolerance induction differed between the two AM-fungi included in the present study.