New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Saprophytic growth in soil of a strain of Trichoderma koningii
S. A. WAKELIN
Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Present address: Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division, Microbial and
Plant Sciences Group, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln, New Zealand.
email: WakelinS@Lincoln.ac.nz
K. SIVASITHAMPARAM
Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
University of Western Australia
Nedlands 6009, Australia
A. L. J. COLE
Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
R. A. SKIPP
AgResearch Grasslands
Private Bag 11008
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract A soil-sandwich bioassay was used to determine the
influence of temperature, moisture, form of nitrogen, and the soil microflora
on the saprophytic growth through soil of an isolate of Trichoderma
koningii. Incubation temperature affected the saprophytic growth of the
fungus in soil over the range tested. Saprophytic growth of the isolate in
sterile soil increased with incubation temperature from 5deg.C to the optimum
temperature 25deg.C; there was no saprophytic growth at 30deg.C. Saprophytic
growth also increased with soil moisture content in sterile soil, with a growth
optimum at 70% soil water holding capacity (WHC). There was little saprophytic
growth at soil moisture contents below 20% WHC. Nitrogen added as ammonium
sulphate (NH+4-N) increased the saprophytic growth of T. koningii
in sterile soil whereas nitrogen added as nitrate (NO[[macron]]3-N)
suppressed growth of T. koningii. Saprophytic growth of T.
koningii was markedly reduced in the presence of a natural soil microflora,
and enhanced in soil sterilised with ethylene oxide and, to a lesser extent, in
soil pasteurised by microwave treatment. The soil sandwich technique could be
used as a screen to identify soils and soil factors conducive to Trichoderma
establishment and growth.
Keywords soil sandwich bioassay; biological control; soil
suppression; moisture; temperature; nitrogen; fungi
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1999, Vol. 42: 337-345
0028-8233/99/4203-0337 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1999
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1723K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
