Entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae promotes the early development of peanut root

Abstract

The benefit of the entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae to early root development was evaluated. Two inoculating methods, conidia-suspension-drenching (T1) and conidia-coating (T2), were used when sowing peanut. The results showed that taproot length and lateral root number in T1 significantly increased compared to the control (T0) in days 4-10 after treatment, whereas no significant difference was found between T2 and T0. The fungal density by T1 and T2 fluctuated in the first 8 days, followed by a gradual decline. The ratio of the taproot length or lateral root number in T1 and T0 was significant relative to the fungal persistence. It suggested that M. anisopliae promotes peanut root development and should be considered as important factor in plant protection besides pest controls.

Keywords

• entomopathogenic fungus
• growth promoting
• taproot
• lateral root
• pollution-free plant protection